The Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) said it has concluded plans to enrol over 11, 000 out of school children in Adamawa state.

The project being supported by the Malala Funds is aimed at reducing the number of out of school children occasioned by the displacement of families by the Boko Haram insurgency and the prevailing poverty in the northeast region.

The programmes officer, Sa’adatu Umar who made the disclosure at a one day media parley on Children’s Rights to Basic Education which held at the Eagles Path hotel, Yola, said the organisation is worried on the increasing number of out of school children in the country which has reached 13 million.

“We have concluded plans to enrol 9,000 girls and 2, 000 girls back to school from different communities across Adamawa state, ” she said.

She noted that the fund has floated human right clubs, in three schools in each of the 21 LGAs, with a view to come up with data to ensure that the right of every child to free and compulsory education as enshrined in the Universal Basic Education Act is achieved.

She punctured the claim by the state government to the effect that it is providing free education, faulting such claims on the alter of collection of PTA levies, sports, practical and home economic fees amounting to over N1,000 across the state.

Umar called on the state government to walk its talk by providing free education at the basic education level which will go a long way in bridging the enrollment gap.

She emphasized the need for monitoring, evaluation and tracking of budgetary allocation in the education as such will lead to provision of quality services and enhance enrollment.

“The parley is inline with education right of the girl child in Nigeria which is aimed at ensuring that state governments take appropriate action to promote free and quality education,” she noted.

The program manager, urged stakeholders to ensure that violence against women which manifest in trafficking, abduction as well as forced marriages is tackled.

Everastus Udo, Consultant and Lawyer, in his presentation, ‘An Overview of the Universal Basic Education Act,’ identified ignorance, early marriage and girl child abuse to some of the challenges responsible for increase in school drop out in the state.

Udo, reiterated the commitment of LEDAP in offering free legal services, especially to the girl child in the state

The state government had introduced free education system early this year, to ensure every child accessed basic education.