THE Federal Government has disclosed that it has awarded special scholarships to over 222 female students in addition to 330 laptop computers distributed to female students in the Federal Unity Schools.
Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, stated in Abuja at the launch of the Global Education Monitoring Report 2017/2018 with the theme: “Accountability in Education; meeting our commitment.”
In his keynote address, he said his ministry had successfully aligned its 10 Pillars of the Ministerial Strategic Plan (MSP) 2016 – 2019 to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG4) targets as well as organising several sensitisation meetings /workshop for stakeholders to ensure effective implementation.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Sonny Echono, he said said that various agencies under the ministry had many success stories regarding their specific interventions towards achieving the targets in the 10 Pillars.
The Minister further said that efforts had been made to bridge the gender gap in enrolment, retention and completion by addressing the problem of girl-child education, meet the challenges of inadequacy and low teacher quality.
“Two hundred and twenty two female scholars were awarded special scholarships, 330 laptop computers distributed to female students in the Federal Unity Schools as well as training of principals and teachers in classroom management using ICT which were accomplished under the SDG4 project,” he said.
He added that a 10-year education plan was being developed under the Nigeria/UNESCO Plan of Cooperation.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Director, UNESCO Regional Office, Abuja Mr. YDO Yao said that global launch of the report was performed in Brazil on October, 24, 2017.
According to him, government must ensure that the right to education is enforceable through adequate public awareness of the right to education, legal support from civil society organisations and action to complement right protection for people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.