Out-of-school children reduced by 2m — Minister

From Fred Ezeh, Abuja

Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, disclosed, on Tuesday, that the number of out-of-school children has reduced by two million, from hitherto over 10 million.

The Minister disclosed the development at the maiden quarterly citizens and stakeholders engagement on Nigerian education sector ministerial deliverables in Abuja.

The further disclosed that the two million children who are mostly Almajiri children were lifted from the street and enrolled in school including Arabic literacy programmes, to acquire basic education, acquire vocational training.

He noted that the reduction of out-of-school children in Nigeria was one of the major focus of the current administration, giving assurances that before the end of the year, many more out-of-school children would be brought back to acquire learning and skills.

He said: “We have developed the guidelines and training manuals for the implementation of inclusive basic education Nigeria. These have increased access, enrollment and retention completion of both basic, secondary and tertiary school levels ”

The Minister also revealed that in the last six months, 70,674 teachers and non-teaching staff from across all levels of academic and non-academic training institutes were trained, 2,122 students were awarded Nigerian scholarship awards, 2,889 students studying abroad benefitted from bursary awards amongst other scholarships.

He said the mechanism established by the ministry for inter-governmental relations had helped in building public private partnerships, and brought about an increment in school enrollment, transition and completion for learners especially those with disabilities.