700,000 Nigerian children out of school – FG

The Federal Government has said that more than 700,000 children across Nigeria are currently out of school, urging governments at all levels to take urgent and coordinated action to reverse the trend. Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE), Dr Muhammad Idris, disclosed the figure at the maiden Benue […]

The Federal Government has said that more than 700,000 children across Nigeria are currently out of school, urging governments at all levels to take urgent and coordinated action to reverse the trend.

Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE), Dr Muhammad Idris, disclosed the figure at the maiden Benue Basic Education Summit in Makurdi.

He described the situation as alarming and in need of decisive intervention.

Idris said the data indicated the scale of the education gap nationwide and called on states to adopt aggressive strategies to ensure that children of school age are enrolled and retained in basic education.

The summit, organised by the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), NCAOOSCE and Universal Learning Solutions (ULS), focused on innovative strategies to boost enrolment and retention in basic schools.

Governor Hycent Alia launched the Brace Up Project and inaugurated student marshals across the 23 local government areas to identify and monitor out-of-school children.

He said that 525 out-of-school children already identified in the state had been reintegrated into the school system with learning materials provided, assuring that the government would sustain the campaign until all affected children are returned to the classrooms.

Also speaking, UBEC Executive Secretary, Hajiya Aisha Garba, said reforms by the commission have enabled states to access over N100 billion in counterpart funding to strengthen basic education delivery.

“The Chief Executive Officer of ULS, Gary Foxcroft, who was also present at the event, described the summit as a demonstration of shared commitment to improving basic education in Benue and announced the donation of 1,000 Jolly Phonics books to support Benue SUBEB with their out-of-school children initiative.”