Nigerian Ministry Of Education Returns 4 Million Out–Of–School Kids To Class

The Nigerian government, through the Federal Ministry of Education, has returned to class over four million out-of-school children in one year.

The Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman stated this in a media briefing tagged ‘Transformative Journey’ to mark his one year in office.

He said the development resulted from measures taken to address the learning crisis he met last year upon assumption of office.

Professor Mamman targeted the basic education sector using the DOTS Policy which includes Data Repository, Out-of-school education, Teacher training and development, Skills acquisition, and development programs.

He said five agencies under the ministry were responsible for the feat, stressing that the ministry has also projected to take 3 to 4 million out-of-school children annually from the street to the class in the next three years.

“Over Four million (4,028,000) young children have been brought to basic school and Arabic literacy program including 200,500 learners with disabilities through 5 agencies of the federal ministry of education.
“In the last two weeks, over 20,000 school children have been registered in Abuja and similar exercise is ongoing across the country. Those who are above school age will be taught skills so that they can continue with their life.
“We are targeting 3 to 4 million out-of-school children to be brought back to the class every year for the next three years,” he said.

Mamman said the ministry has also increased school enrolment of learners from 30 million to 55 million within the one year in focus.
According to him, more than 85,662 teaching and non-teaching staff at all levels in various academic and non-academic institutions have been trained in the last year. He also said over 40,000 facilities have been provided by UBEC for basic and senior secondary education as there can be no good learning without a good environment.

In the Tertiary education sector, the Minister said over 6,500 facilities have been provided including a laboratory, faculty building to auditorium among others, through TETFUND especially. The Minister said over 759, 000 scholarships have been awarded to students in the last year.

“Some of these scholarships are internal while some are external and have taken the burden off the beneficiaries and their parents. Similarly, under the student loan scheme, NELFUND has disbursed 3 billion naira,” he said.

He said the ministry has processed the payments of allowances to Nigerian Scholars under the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA), with some foreign countries, urging beneficiaries and parents to exercise restraint as the CBN and the Ministry of Finance are on the verge of paying the money. He added that the ministry under his watch implemented the Transnational Education (TNE) system that gives opportunities to Nigerian Scholars to get world-class education with less finances, as doors have been opened for foreign countries to come and invest in Nigeria.

The ministry has also employed the use of Artificial intelligence and other forms of technology for teaching, just as emphasis has been placed on technical Education from primary school levels to Tertiary Institutions to enhance hands-on skills for the labor market after graduation.

“Before now, many had no skills resulting in unemployment but now technical Colleges, Polytechnic, and colleges of education (technical) are being strengthened.
“From September/October this year, schools will begin to teach skills from Primary schools so that when students graduate at any level of education, they will be ready for the labor market,” he said.

He said the ministry under him, re-invented and enhanced the Safe School standards, especially the establishment of a rapid response team for security, provision of CCTV for security in schools, raising of fences in schools, and sensitizing communities on security measures.

Others he said include the review of the school curriculum including that for crafts and artisans, early grade learners as well as streamlining of policies on distance learning.

He said in a short while, Nigeria’s education system will be completely transformed with the kind of policy design and implementation, especially with the level of support from Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The Minister of State for Education, Dr Tanko Yusuf said the whole programme being implemented aims to improve infrared access to education and welfare.

He commended the staff of the ministry for their unwavering support.