Why FG must not scrap NMEC
Nigeria is continually facing the challenge of a large number of its population becoming a liability rather than an asset. With a high rate of illiteracy in the range of 40%, one in three school-age children being out of school and youth population of over 70 million, the threat and consequences of social exclusion continue […]
Nigeria is continually facing the challenge of a large number of its population becoming a liability rather than an asset. With a high rate of illiteracy in the range of 40%, one in three school-age children being out of school and youth population of over 70 million, the threat and consequences of social exclusion continue to rise. This is as a result of a substantial part of the population not having been properly served in the provision of education to enhance their ability to gain required skills and thereby social mobility.
In order to further avoid the social time bomb resulting from the unfolding social and economic scenario in Nigeria, there is need to focus on solving the problem of mass illiteracy and associated problems such as youth unemployment. Nigeria’s is among the E-9 countries (Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria and Pakistan) which account for 60% of the world population but two third of its illiteracy population. These countries, in order to tackle the problem of illiteracy, have designated specialized agencies of departments to oversee mass illiteracy, non-formal education and other strategies that would lead to enhanced illiteracy and thereby economic development.
Nigeria has an agency responsible for tackling the challenge of illiteracy and youth empowerment. This is the National Commission for Adult Education Mass Literacy and Non-Formal Education (NMEC). Unfortunately, unlike in other countries, this agency have not been given the required support to enable it perform its key functions. Compounding this is the possibility that the organization may lose its independence and made to operate under an agency responsible for formal Basic Education. Such a situation will be tragic and reverse progress and plans being put in place to tackle an area that is continually becoming a national embarrassment for Nigeria.
Nigeria must again align with its fellow E-9 countries in dealing with the population of illiteracy. These countries individually and collectively recognize the importance of an independent agency or department within the Ministry of Education supervising the implementation of mass education and other non-Formal Education Programmes. Locating such responsibilities as a sub-unit within an organization already weighed down by the provision of Basic Education and about to also assume responsibility of Senior Secondary Education in Nigeria would be turning back the clock in terms of progress. An unwieldy organization would not augur well for implementing important projects in an age where the emphasis should be on lean organizations to enhance efficiency.
In the light of this, the Federal Government of Nigeria must commit to NMEC as an independent agency within the Federal Ministry of Education to tackle mass illiteracy and Non-Formal Education. Nigeria must as a matter of policy, commit to enhancing the participation of the high number of out of school children, youths, adults and other excluded in the education process through support to an independent agency implementing non-Formal Education Policies such as NMEC. Such an organistion would be more efficient than a unit operating under a large bureaucratic organization. There are lots to be gained in the long-run in the area of skills development, economic enhancement and social inclusion from having an independent agency than the short-term gains of fund saving by relocating such an agency.
Francis Nelson wrote from Abuja