EDUCATION stakeholders on Thursday, pointed to the grave consequences of failing to arrest the menace posed by 13.2 million out-of-school children in the nation, with Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Hammid Bobboyi warning that the threat posed Boko Haram, cattle rustlers, kidnapping, militants will be child play if out-of-school children are not brought into schools.
Noting the peculiarity of the out-of-school menace to all states of the North West, North East as well as Southern states of Niger, Oyo, Ebonyi and Rivers, Bobboyi described as shameful that 30 years after the launch of education for all, the country grappled with phenomenon which may lead to the entire collapse of its entire social systems, if not addressed.
Speaking in Ibadan, at the launch of Better Education Service Delivery For All (BESDA) for Oyo state, Bobboyi particularly warned education managers, political leaders, traditional leaders, parents and policymakers against misapplication of the $611million borrowed by the federal government to address the menace in the selected 17 states.
Bobboyi who was represented by Director, Department of Academic Services, UBEC, Mallam Wadatau Madawaki, therefore sought the collaboration of state governments, parents and other education stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the BESDA initiative meant to mop up the out of school children in our nation.
“It is really shameful that 30 years after the launch of education for all, we are here talking about out-of-school children in our society. This is totally unacceptable.
“I am saddened and I deeply believe that it was our collective failure to strategise and accord the education sector its desired attention that led us to this situation where we have to resort to taking a huge World Bank credit to try to solve this menace which is by no means, a major challenge to the overall development and survival of the entire nation.
“We are borrowing $611million to bring our out-of-school children to school and to ensure that they are able to read and write. Parents, political leaders, traditional leaders, education managers and administrators to the highest educational and developmental policy makers owe it a duty and responsibility to ensure the proceeds of the credit are absolutely applied to the very purpose for which they were meant.
“If we don’t, we will certainly regret the outcome of our insincerity in a more devastating manner than what we are currently experiencing with Boko Haram, cattle rustlers, roadblock militias, kidnappers and the rest. It is a cancerous phenomenon which if not addressed may lead to the entire collapse of our entire social systems.” Bobboyi said.
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In his address to launch the BESDA initiative in Oyo, Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu lamented the huge number of out-of-school children in the country coupled with challenges facing the education system like high illiteracy level, infrastructural decay, inadequate number of qualified teachers, inadequate instructional facilities and poor funding.
He, therefore, noted the BESDA programme aimed at increasing equitable access for out-of-school children, improve literacy and strengthen accountability for results at the basic education level.
Adamu, represented by Director, Basic Secondary Education, Dr Lamin Amodu, consequently enjoined benefitting states to immediately commence implementation of BESDA in line with stipulated guidelines of the programme.
“There is nothing to cheer about if a single child is out-of-school, not to talk of the millions that are currently roaming the streets, instead of being in the classroom learning.
“It is in this regard that ensuring the out-of-school children are back to school and learning will not be only a moral and legal obligation, but, also a productive investment that will guarantee the future of our children and ensure that their rights are protected as enshrined in the Child’s Rights Act of 2003,” Adamu added.
Speaking, Governor Abiola Ajimobi represented by his deputy, Mr Moses Adeyemo assured of a successful implementation of BESDA by the state.
He said the state had overtime shown commitment to service delivery in education, epitomised by the School Governing Boards, hence was keen on initiatives that would improve its education sector.
Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Mrs Makanjuola Aderonke, in her remarks after the event, said the state government had begun collecting data of out-of-school children in the state with a view to implementing strategies to draw them into schools.
Makanjuola said the state will work with the statistics being gathered, in line with BESDA stipulations, towards increasing retention and enrolment rate in schools.
For slightly older children, she said the state intended to work with artisans’ associations towards encouraging them to embrace adult literacy.
Also in attendance at the event were National Project Coordinator, Professor Gidado Tahir, Speaker, Oyo House of Assembly, Honourable Olagunju Ojo represented by Honourable Joshua Oyebamiji; Permanent Secretary, state Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs I. I. Fatoki.
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