Federal Government has
redoubled efforts to ensure out-of-school children were returned and retained
in school.
The Minister of State
for Education, Yusuf Sununu, disclosed this on Wednesday, in Yola.
The Minister, who
stated this at the inauguration of the National Campaign on Out-of-school
Children 2024 for four geo-political zones in Nigeria, said this was to achieve
a better society.
Represented by Mrs Joy Onoja,
the federal ministry’s Deputy Director, Basic Education, Sununu said a
significant number of children in the country were still deprived of the
fundamental rights to education.
“The socio-cultural and economic issues complicated by the world
ravaging COVID-19 pandemic have escalated the number of children who are out of
school.
“The road map for the Nigeria education sector for Renewed Hope
2023 to 2027 has also observed that the country still has the highest rate of
out-of-school children.
“This is why the Federal Government has been working tirelessly
in creating an environment where every child has the opportunity to learn, grow
and contribute meaningfully to the society.”
He assured that the Ministry would identify such children,
ensure their enrolment in formal and non-formal learning centres close to their
homes with provision of school materials for continued learning.
Sununu urged stakeholders, philanthropists and individuals to
work together and ensure indigent children were given support and sponsored in
various vocations to achieve a reliable and safe society.
Speaking also, Dr Umar Pella, the Adamawa Commissioner for
Education, reiterated the state government’s commitment to ensuring every child
in the state have access to education.
Pella said the campaign was critical to raising the required
awareness and sensitisation at the local government and communities levels.
”This is to ensure every child was given the right to learn and
be educated.”
He disclosed that basic education in the state was free and
compulsory, adding that the law on education in the state would be fully
implemented and defaulters prosecuted.
“Out-of-school children is a case that is becoming globally
alarming in Nigeria, especially in the Northern part of the country
“Every child not in school is a potential danger to the society.
He or she can be recruited by evil forces and become a menace to the society,”
the Commissioner said.
He encouraged parents to take advantage of the free education
provided by ensuring children of school age were enrolled in spite of their
social and economic background.
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