Politics

Out-of-school children: FG tasks stakeholders on aggressive enrollment drive

Federal Government has called on stakeholders at various levels, national sub-national and local authorities as well as private sector to collaborate in the efforts to ensure aggressive and intensive enrollment drive in schools in Nigeria.

Minister of State for Education, Honourable Yusuf Tanko Sununu, who made call on Monday, said this was part of the concerted efforts towards the eradication of the out-of-school children phenomenon in Nigeria.

Dr Sununu said the national target was to reduce the number of out-of-school children estimated at 10.5 per cent by at least a quarter in the next two years, noting that commitment and teamwork by stakeholders remain critical element needed to eradicate the menace.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of the maiden edition of the Basic Education Summit in Nigeria in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital, the Minister noted that in spite of the significant development strides in the country’s education sector, the large number of out-of-school children remains shocking and unacceptable.

He noted that all hands must stay on deck in the national resolve to confront the ugly phenomenon.

The Minister reaffirmed that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to creative policies and ideas that will take education in the country to enviable heights.

Describing the theme of the Summit; “improving access to quality and inclusive education for all children in Nigeria towards achieving the sustainable development goal 4 as apt and timely, the Minister noted that the challenges of the sector were not insurmountable, adding that determination, good thinking, planning, creative ideas, commitment, and teamwork will do the job.

According to the Minister, the Summit is designed to address current and emerging issues in Basic education, including poor enrollment, foundational learning and numeracy, security and safety of schools, funding, research, capacity building and teacher professional development among others.

Director, Press and Public Relations, Ben Bem Goong, in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said the week-long summit would end on Friday.

In his keynote address at the summit, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom state, Pastor Umo Eno said the country must return to the good old days when the necessary facilities for teaching and learning were provided for Basic schools, including accommodation on school premises for teachers for effective supervision of school activities, adding that his administration would lead by example.

Governor Umo noted that the summit marks a significant step towards revolutionalising the landscape of basic education in Nigeria, ensuring that stakeholders gain comprehensive insights into the nuances that define basic education in the nation.

Governor Umo reaffirmed the commitment of states to key into the policies and programmes of the Federal government.

He added that the success of the stakeholders’ endeavours hinges on the harmonisation and coordination of resources and activities in the subsector, reiterating that the future of the country lies in the hands of the children.

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