15m Out-of-school Children to be Brought Back to Classrooms, as Education Minister Unveils Roadmap

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The Minister of Education, Prof. Mamman Tahir, has unveiled the roadmap for 2024-2027 activities, which have the basic education and the reduction of 15 million out-of-school children as its priorities among others.

To achieve this, the ministry has began operationalising the establishment of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children, and has approved a policy on Early Child Care Development in Education (ECCDE).

It has also commenced engagement with state governments on removing bottlenecks that negatively impacted on their ability to optimally utilise the Universal Basic Education funds.

The theme for the next three years ‘Education for Renewed Hope Agenda: Roadmap for the Nigerian Education Sector 2024-2027’, was subjected to stakeholder review, adoption and approved for implementation by the National Council on Education at its 67th session.

Speaking in Abuja yesterday during a one- day stakeholders’ meeting, Prof. Tahir, while recounting the gains of the ministry in the past four months, noted that once the country gets it right in the education sector, development will be on the right trajectory, and also stated that a population with the appropriate knowledge, skills and attitude would engender a society with the right economic model for delivering services to the people.

He said the roadmap, which contains practical, problem-solving and realistic approaches across 13 thematic areas delineated, would allow for concurrent implementation as parts of a synergistic whole.

The minister added that in achieving high premium on foundational and basic education, strengthening in the integration of existing non-formal schools into formal education systems, scaling-up adult literacy and non-formal education interventions, increasing opportunities for girl-child education as well as forging partnerships with all tiers of government and development partners will be key.

According to him, “Suffice it to say that it is an embarrassment that Nigeria is continually associated with the highest number of out-of-school children in the world.

“We would be paying particular attention to this unacceptable phenomenon, and in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment, would work towards returning 15 million out-of-school children back to the classrooms by 2027. 230 out-of-school children were brought back to school.

“We will re-invigorate our focus on basic education, including ensuring the harmonisation and coordination resources and activities among all tiers of government and development partners.

“We have, therefore, begun operationalising the establishment of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children, approved a policy on Early Child Care Development Education (ECCDE), and commenced engagement with state governments on removing bottlenecks that negatively impacted on their ability to optimally utilise the Universal basic Education funds.”

On partnership with state governments, Tahir disclosed that the focus would be centred on: “A commitment to improve governance accountability, coordination and relentless focus on results at all levels; federal and state governments commit to increasing public financing as well as transparent and timely release of funds.

“The state governments would fulfill jointly agreed counterpart obligations on efficient programme execution and achievement of results; and funding from the federal government and development partners to the states should be performance-based and disbursed on achievement of agreed results on policy reforms and service delivery outputs/outcomes.”