On October 23, 2024, Back to School Educational Initiative (BASEI), in partnership with the Global Peace Foundation Nigeria with support from Rise Up, held separate focus group discussions with selected school principals, students, and their parents in Zaria, Zone 1 Senatorial District of Kaduna State. The discussions aimed at gathering evidence-based data and build an advocacy team to secure the Kaduna State Government’s commitment to restoring the policy of free external examinations fees for public school students.
During the engagement with key stakeholders, several issues hindering students from completing their education in the state were identified, including:
Increased poverty and the high cost of living in the state, which burdens parents.
The government’s discontinuation of payment for students’ external examination fees.
Many students drop out and lose hope because they cannot afford to pay for their final examinations, leading to negative behaviors.
In remote areas, parents are afraid to send their children to school due to security challenges.
Insufficient infrastructural development in schools, which demotivates students.
Additionally, some parents emphasized the need to modernize the educational system to align with current global trends, as well as the importance of introducing skills acquisition programs to keep students engaged. This approach is expected to reduce poverty and help make youth more productive.