The Nigerian Government has disclosed plans to reintegrate over one million out-of-school children into the formal education system across the country.
Penpushing reports that the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, made this known at the 69th National Council on Education Summit in Akure, Ondo State, themed “Quality Education Data and Professionalisation of Teaching: Tools for Enhanced National Development.”
The Minister explained that the initiative, being implemented in collaboration with the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education, involves mapping and documenting children from 12,600 communities nationwide.
Penpushing further reports that Alausa explained that the programme targets children between the ages of seven and nine, who will be enrolled in low-cost private schools and training centres.
The Minister said over 21,000 out-of-school children have already been identified across the Federal Capital Territory and handed over to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Education Secretariat for enrolment.
Penpushing also reports that he disclosed that the ministry has established 109 functional learning centres and transit schools across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), through which 15,224 learners have been enrolled so far.
“The ministry, in fulfilment of its mandate, set up a task force comprising the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education, the National Commission for Nomadic Education, and the National Commission for Mass Literacy and Non-Formal Education to document the extent of the problem’.
“With support from UBEC, this task force mapped out over one million children of various ages from 12,600 communities across the country. Efforts have been made to put these children back to school by enlisting those between ages 6–9 into low-cost private schools, while others will be enrolled in schools and training centres in collaboration with the Almajiri Commission,” Alausa said.
Penpushing reports that Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, in his remarks described education as the most powerful tool for social mobility, national unity and sustainable development.
The Governor stated that Ondo State had maintained its legacy of educational advancement from the free education era of the old Western Region to present-day investments in digital learning, teacher welfare, and infrastructure.
“Our goal is to make education not just accessible, but meaningful and transformative. Every child in Ondo State deserves a fair chance at learning and success,” Aiyedatiwa stated.
Penpushing further reports that he commended President Bola Tinubu for his ongoing education reforms, particularly the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, which he said has supported over 624,000 students, bridging the gap between children of the rich and the poor.
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