Millions of out-of-school children to benefit from alternative school programme ― Farouq

The Federal Government, on Tuesday, reiterated its resolve towards ensuring effective implementation of the Alternate School Programme (ASP) aimed at addressing the menace of out-of-school children in Nigeria.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, disclosed this in Abuja, at the fourth meeting of the National Steering Committee (NSC) of the Alternative Steering Programme, which was set up as a vehicle for the improvement of access to education for all Nigerian children in alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) Number 4, aimed at ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promote modelling learning opportunities for all.

She said: “This meeting is important as it provides the first opportunity for the Technical Working Group (TWG) of the Alternative School Programme Committee to present their plan for the implementation of this ambitious scheme across the 36 States of the Federation, including the Federal Capital Territory.

“The Federal Government is committed to ensuring that all necessary things are done to facilitate the actualisation of the programme that will benefit millions of Out-of-School Children across the country.

“I want to commend the Technical Working Group for their effort in the provision of the operationalisation modalities of the programme.

“The programme targeting the problem of Out-of-School Children is brought about by the recognition that while education is a pathway out of poverty, it remains elusive and out of reach for some segments of vulnerable populations to access,” Farouq said.

The Minister noted that with the leverage of her Ministry’s Social Investment Programmes (NSIP), a platform had been provided for the vulnerable poor to be able to take advantage of educational opportunities through the ASP.

“We recognise that in providing a combination of a basic formal education curriculum with selected Social Investment Programmes, we provide a pathway for this section of the vulnerable population to take the first step out of poverty in the long-term.

“The very nature of out-of-school children populations in Nigeria, the objectives of the ASP has determined that traditional approaches to educational programmes are not readily applicable.

“Today is the first step of many toward the execution of the programme and I remain grateful to all members of the NSC and the TWG for their respective contributions and support in bringing us this far,” Farouq said.

In his remarks, Minister of State for Education, Hon Chukwuemeka Nwaijuba, who applauded the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, members of the NSC and TWG drawn from the Presidency, NYSC, NSIP, Northern Governors Forum (NGF), National Population Commission (NBC), the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and Save the Children, as well as National Senior Citizen Centre, National Assembly, Federal Ministries of Education, Humanitarian Affairs, Women Affairs, Finance and Budget Planning and Civil Society Organisations.

YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

Viral Voice Note On WhatsApp Billing False

Claim: A viral WhatsApp voice note, purportedly made by the director and CEO of WhatsApp, claims users will have to start paying for WhatsApp services.

Verdict: The viral WhatsApp voice note claim is a hoax. The content is not new and has been circulated as a broadcast message several times in the past.Millions of out-of-school children to benefit from alternative school programme ― Farouq