This concern was raised during the visit of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Country Representative, Ms. Wafa Said, to SKS Model Primary School, Yabo, where stakeholders renewed their commitment to finding solutions.

Yabo community leader, Muhammadu Abubakar, emphasised that poverty and poor awareness were the main barriers keeping children from classrooms. He said, *“We constantly preach about education during sermons. Personally, I ensured all my children attained university education, some up to master’s level. We believe so much in education.”*

Chairman of the School-Based Management Committee (SBMC), Dan Sheu, revealed that while many children had been re-enrolled in schools, financial constraints still prevented them from advancing further. *“We have returned several out-of-school children, enrolling some into secondary schools. Unfortunately, many cannot proceed to higher institutions due to financial challenges,”* he lamented. Sheu added that the committee was now exploring income-generating initiatives like gardening and small-scale businesses to sustain interventions.

Headmaster of the school, Yusuf Sharu, explained that innovations such as the *“Teaching at the Right Level”* approach had improved literacy rates, while UNICEF’s provision of a borehole enhanced hygiene and supported agricultural activities.

Despite these gains, stakeholders maintained that tackling poverty and strengthening parental awareness remained vital to reversing the trend.

UNICEF’s Country Representative, Wafa Said, expressed concern that many children still roamed the streets instead of being in classrooms. She stressed, *“When children are given access to education, they not only transform their communities but also contribute to Africa and the world at large.”* She called for stronger collaboration between schools and communities.

Also speaking, Chief of UNICEF’s Sokoto Field Office, Mr. Micheal Juma, pledged continued support for teacher training and improved classroom delivery. He further encouraged the SBMC to expand environmental projects such as tree planting and erosion control.