FG renews effort to cut rate of out-of-school kids

As many as 10.2 million children, mostly in the rural areas, are said to be missing out on education due to a number of reasons which include cultural and socio-economic issues, bad influence as well as poor health. Education authorities, especially under the Federal Government, have reportedly taken some initiatives to combat the problem of […]

As many as 10.2 million children, mostly in the rural areas, are said to be missing out on education due to a number of reasons which include cultural and socio-economic issues, bad influence as well as poor health.

Education authorities, especially under the Federal Government, have reportedly taken some initiatives to combat the problem of out-of-school kids basically by improving access to primary education. Another move by the government is the creation of a commission to oversee secondary education, expected to be inaugurated soon.  Similarly, many pressure groups and international organizations have taken steps especially in states believed to have high number of out-of-school kids to increase awareness campaigns on access to quality education with greater emphasis on girls to stimulate family well-being and economic growth.

Sadly, Minister of Education Adamu Adamu said in spite of the concerted efforts by various stakeholders, out-of-school kids still remain a challenge to policy makers because they have not been reduced by at least 50%.

Nevertheless Adamu, who has been reappointed education minister, must have prepared to work with renewed vigour and determination to send more school age children to schools.

Kano State Governor Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who met with the minister and top ministry officials on Friday in Abuja, said he discussed strategies to boost education and address the problem of out-of-school children at a basic education summit in Kano.  He said the almajiri education system would be integrated into the modern school system.

Ganduje said, “We are having a very important decision on basic and secondary education in Kano. We have made a pronouncement that basic education and secondary education will be free and compulsory. In order to make it sustainable, we are holding a stakeholders’ summit for which I have come to invite the Minister of Education.

“Mind you, we are not limiting it to basic education; secondary education will also be free and compulsory. So we are going to have a legislation to back it. As you know, basic education is already compulsory according to the Universal Basic Education Law.

“On the almajiri system, the essence of the summit is to take care of the out-of-school children, including the almajiri.

“What we plan to do is to integrate the almajiri system with the modern western type of education. We are going to modify the curriculum so that it will tally with the national curriculum that we are operating at the moment.