The training, in a statement signed by the public relations officer, Ibrahim Musa Maizare held at the ZSUBEB Headquarters, Gusau, is aimed at strengthening the capacity of the officers to effectively engage communities and stakeholders in improving access, participation, retention and the quality of basic education across Zamfara State.
Representing the Executive Chairman of ZSUBEB, Prof. Nasir Garba Anka (Makaman Sokoto Ta Kudu), at the occasion, the Permanent Member I, Madawaki Alhaji Dahiru Shehu, said social mobilization remains critical to the success of government interventions in the education sector. He described Social Mobilization Officers as an important link between government, schools, parents, communities, traditional and religious institutions, civil society organisations and other stakeholders.
Madawaki Alhaji Dahiru Shehu explained that the responsibilities of Social Mobilization Officers go beyond information dissemination, stressing that they are expected to build trust, create awareness, encourage community participation, identify barriers to education and promote ownership of educational programmes. He said the training would strengthen participants’ skills in community engagement, advocacy, communication, stakeholder coordination, data collection and reporting.
He emphasised that sustainable progress in basic education cannot be achieved by government alone, but requires the active participation of parents, communities, traditional and religious leaders, teachers, SBMCs and development partners. He therefore urged participants to take the training seriously and apply the knowledge acquired to strengthen community participation and improve educational outcomes in their respective areas.
In a goodwill message, the State Coordinator of UBEC, Zamfara State Office, Malam Tanimu Abdulkadir, who spoke on behalf of the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Aisha Garba, and the management of the Commission, commended ZSUBEB for organising the training. He described the SBMC as “the heart of the school” and identified reducing out-of-school children, improving retention and attendance, strengthening school security, and promoting transparency and accountability as key areas requiring effective community participation.
Malam Abdulkadir cited the recent Enrolment Drive Campaign at JNI Primary School, Gusau, where 87 out-of-school children were enrolled, as an example of what effective community mobilisation can achieve. He called for the replication of such successes across all 14 Local Government Areas and urged participants to revitalise dormant SBMCs, promote inclusive membership and maintain proper records of SBMC activities.
He further disclosed that UBEC has made SBMC functionality an important indicator in its school monitoring exercise and assured that reports and recommendations from the training would be forwarded to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja for necessary support.
Representatives of the Teachers Service Board, Senior Secondary Education Board, and Ministry of Education, Science and Technology also pledged their continued support and collaboration towards strengthening community participation in education.
In his closing remarks, the Director of Social Mobilization, ZSUBEB Headquarters, Alhaji Sani Usman Gummi, thanked the participating institutions, development partners, facilitators, organisers and other stakeholders for their contributions to the success of the programme. He urged participants to share the knowledge acquired with their colleagues and apply it effectively in their areas of responsibility, stressing that the training would further strengthen partnerships between schools, communities and government for the advancement of basic education in Zamfara State.
