Nigeria Unveils Education Roadmap, Says 15m Out-Of-School Children To Be Brought Back To Classrooms
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The Minister of Education, Prof. Mamman Tahir has unveiled the roadmap for 2024-2027 activities for the sector which among others, has the basic education and the reduction of out-of-school children by 15 million as its priorities.
To achieve this, the ministry has started 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 impact 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 stakeholders’ review, adoption and approved for implementation by the National Council on Education at its 67th Session.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, during a one-day stakeholders’ meeting, 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 would be on the right trajectory.
He 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 thirteen thematic areas delineated would allow for concurrent implementation as parts of a synergistic whole.
He added that in achieving high premium on foundational and basic education, strengthening 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 would be key.
He said: “Suffice 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 year 2027.
“We will re-invigorate our focus on basic education including ensuring the harmonisation and coordination resources and activities amongst all tiers of government and development partners.
“We have, therefore, began 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 impact 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.
“State governments fulfill jointly agreed counterpart obligations on efficient programme execution and achievement of results; and funding from 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.”
By Kuni Tyessi