The Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, has described the number of out-of-school children, especially in northern Nigeria, as a time bomb that must be addressed.
The minister, who stated this Monday during the 2023 Bauchi Education Summit held at Dr Saad Abubakar Hajj Camp, Bauchi, with the theme: ‘Nurturing a flourishing future: Improving access and quality education in Bauchi State’, said the rising figure of out-of-school children in Nigeria, particularly in the North is not only unacceptable, but disheartening.
He noted that there must be concerted efforts to address and reverse the trend.
The minister explained that Federal Government had taken steps to address the challenge with the newly established National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children, which is set to commence activities. He added that the commission would address issues and develop mechanism for the integration of Tsangaya/Madarasa schools into Basic Education.
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The minister further disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Education recently developed a road map captioned ‘Education for Renewed Hope’, a document that is aligned with the eight-point agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
The minister also solicited the support and cooperation of Ulamas and proprietors of such schools as well as the sub-national level to come forward with similar agency backed by state laws to serve the same purpose. He added that the move would facilitate better collaborations and synergy in addressing issues of out-of-school children and grant the Tsangaya schools the recognition and status they deserve.
He added that the challenges confronting the education sector could only be addressed by the efforts of all stakeholders.
The minister also commended Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State for showing dedication and serious commitment towards improving the standard and quality of education in the state.
In his remarks, the governor said the Bauchi State Education Summit centered on effectively addressing the issues unique to the state.
He noted that the objectives of the summit was to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the state of education in Bauchi, including the number of out-of-school children, their demographics, and the impact on education due to various challenges.
He added, “To convene all stakeholders, government officials, educators, parents, civil society organisations, and development partners to collaboratively address the state’s education challenges. To develop evidence-based programmes policies and strategies towards addressing the challenges and strengthening our capacities and existing efforts.
“The summit will explore avenues for mobilising financial and human resources to support educational programmes and projects within the state; to devise innovative strategies for creating conducive learning environments, including repairing and revitalising schools.
“To actively involve all stakeholders, local and external, by increasing awareness and mobilising their support in our efforts to enhance the education sector in Bauchi State. To develop, discuss and implement specific interventions and initiatives tailored to address Bauchi State’s unique education challenges.”
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