The Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA), Gombe State chapter, has expressed concern over the persistent challenge of out-of-school children in the state despite ongoing government interventions.

The State Coordinator of CSACEFA, Halima Mahdi, raised the issue on Thursday during an event in Gombe to commemorate the 2025 International Literacy Day.

Mahdi warned that as long as the problem of out-of-school children persists, society will continue to face risks to peace and development.

She said, “Everywhere you turn, you see children roaming the streets when their peers are in school. Until we tackle this, our progress will remain limited. Literacy is the foundation for peace, unity and economic growth.”

Highlighting the importance of technology, Mahdi called for stronger investment in digital literacy to close the gap between Africa and the rest of the world.

She stressed that literacy is not merely an educational target but a driver of socio-economic change.

“Many communities in Africa are still struggling with basic literacy, let alone adapting to digital spaces. When people can read, write, and navigate digital platforms, they can participate more actively in governance, in business, and in building peaceful communities. Literacy is not just the ability to read and write but the ability to understand, evaluate, and participate in today’s fast-changing digital society,” she said.

This year’s International Literacy Day, themed “Promoting Literacy in the Digital Era,” underscored the need to integrate traditional learning with modern digital skills.

While acknowledging the challenges, Mahdi commended the Gombe State Government for efforts to expand access to education, especially for vulnerable groups. She pointed to the payment of WAEC fees, support for the AGILE project, collaboration with the State Universal Education Board, and the strengthening of adult and non-formal education initiatives.

“We must acknowledge the efforts of Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya in reducing the number of out-of-school children. But we must also remember that literacy is a continuous process. In the digital era, we cannot stop at reading and writing; we must empower our people with digital skills,” she added.