Enhancing Enrolment and Retention in an Era of Dwelling Insecurity Challenges at the Junior Secondary Education level in Kebbi State

Abstract The study is aimed at enhancing access to quality basic education in kebbi state. Universal Basic Education (UBE) policy in Nigeria aims to provide free and compulsory education to all children aged 5-16. Despite these efforts, approximately 20 million children were out of school in Nigeria in 2022 alone. Recent statistics indicated that Kebbi is among the states with the highest rates, having about 60% of its young population out of school. Kebbi state located in north-western Nigeria has been plaque by emerging security challenges including banditry, insurgency, kidnapping, climate related disaster (flooding) and communal clashes contributing to the high index of the poor thus, having a devastating effect on the educational sector particularly at the basic level. Six research questions and six objectives were formulated to guide the study. One of the objectives of the study was to determine the emerging security threats affecting access to quality basic education in Kebbi State. The target population of the study consist of principals, teachers, students, Parents, out of school children and staff of the zonal Education offices from ten (10) local government areas of Kebbi State. The main instruments for data collection were a questionnaire titled “Enhancing Access to Quality Basic Education Questionnaire”, Face to Face Interview and focus group discussions. The reliability of the instrument was realized using test-retest method. Quantitative data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics of Mean and standard deviation with the help of SSPS 20.0 version, while the qualitative data was analyzed and presented using thematic areas. One of the findings of the study indicated that the emerging security threats experienced at the basic education level are kidnappings for ransom, Lack of adequate security personnel, natural disasters such as flooding experience during raining season, armed Robbery and banditry in or near the school compounds, poverty, bullying and sexually assault by Kidnappers. Keywords: Junior Secondary Education, Enrolment and Retention, Dwelling Insecurity, Dwelling InsecurityKebbi State, Nigeria.