FG Enrols 2 Million Almajiri Children In Basic Education, Says Minister Of Education

Determined to get children off the streets, the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu has enrolled two million out-of-school “Almajiri” children into basic and Arabic literacy programmes.

This was disclosed on Tuesday by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, at the Citizens and Stakeholders Engagement on Nigerian Education Sector Ministerial Deliverables held in Abuja.

The. Minister said “To deliver on the mandate of the President, there is need to engage with stakeholders to provide opportunities to critically examine the progress in the implementation of 23 Ministerial Deliverables.

“It is one of the major focus of this administration to reduce the numbers of out-of-school children. While the commission set up to reduce this number, the problem of out-of-school is still ongoing.

"2,000,000 Out-of-School Children (Almajiris) were enrolled in

Basic schools and an Arabic literacy programme with

vocational training." he stated 

According to him, the Ministry, in months, have been able to develop guidelines and training manuals for the implementation of inclusive basic education.

These, he said, have helped increased access, enrolment, and retention completion at both basic, secondary, and tertiary school levels.

Towards strengthening research and innovation in Education Sector, the Minister said 185 research projects have been sponsored, facilitated the Research for Impact (Innov8) program with 300 participating lecturers, resulting in the production of 136 practical prototypes.

He added "Upgraded twenty-four (24) Centres of Excellence, fostering strategic

research and industrial applications. Sponsored the Innovation Fellowship for 100 Aspiring Inventors and

Researchers. Constructed and Furnished the UBEC Digital Resource Centre (DRC)

Academic activities in 14 smart schools. 

"The remaining 23 Smart schools are at various stages of completion. Procurement of Six (6) Mobile clinics for the zonal smart schools. Establishment of the UBEC Digital Museum with 10 stations. 1,010 Teachers have been trained on different aspects of Smart school administration in and outside Nigeria, " the Minister said. 

On the training and recruitment of more female teachers and teachers with disability in Unity Schools, he said "Trained over 70,674 teachers and non-teaching staff at all levels in various relevant academic and non-academic training initiatives" 

He listed some of the challenges facing the Ministry to include "Insecurity which includes attacks, displacements, and disruptions affecting schooling in Nigeria;

Shortage of qualified teachers, Caregivers, and Instructors;

Insufficient capacity at State and Local Government levels to implement UBE programmes;

Dearth of reliable data for planning and evaluating progress against set targets; 

Others are "Socio-cultural and economic barriers that create gender imbalance in Basic and

Senior Secondary Education;

Low enforcement of the UBE Act 2004 by States on enrolment, retention and completion;

Failure of some States to provide UBE counterpart funding in order to access, UBE Intervention funds as and when due; Insufficient Funding; and Low esteem and poor public perception of TVET."

Condemning the recent kidnap of some students of University of Calabar, he said the Ministry is working with security agencies to bring back the students and also getting TETFund to help fence the university.

On his part, the Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu said the Ministry has deployed technology in education to boost learning and promote skills development and acquisition at all levels.

This, he said, will assist to address teachers and learning crisis at basic education level

He said “We quite believe that there is a need for strong team approach in addressing the numerous challenges confronting our education sector.

“Education being a tool for individual, community, country and global development cannot be treated in isolation.

“It was in realisation of this that International Labor Organisation classified education as exportable commodity. By extension therefore, the need for both local and international collaboration becomes a necessity,” he said.

Also speaking , the Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun expressed worry over increment in WAEC fees to N27,000, noting that most parents could not afford to pay such.

He appealed to the federal government to come up with policy on how the fees could be subsidised so as to give Nigerian children quality and affordable education.

On the out-of-school challenges, he said the recent inflow of children from other parts of the country to Lagos state was constituting a problem, saying if not handled could spur more social vices.

The Commander, National Safe School Response Coordination Centre, Dr Hammed Abodunrin said it was time the country took security of the citizens serious.

Abodunrin said there was need to give security education to the citizenry, adding that the centre in collaboration with the education ministry was ready to take-off security education in schools.

Dr Mikayla Ibrahim, Education Adviser of the British High Commission, said the UK Government has supported Nigeria’s basic education through the implementation of the GEP III project.

According to him, the GEP project has giving about 1.5m girls access to learning.

The GEP project, he said, has also worked well in the Reading and Numeracy as well as the Cash Transfer Programme.

The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry Of Education, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, delivering vote of thanks, said "We are deeply honoured to have had the presence of the Honourable Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, whose insightful reportage on the Ministry's activities and accomplishments in delivering on the 23 Presidential mandates has been both enlightening and inspiring. Your leadership and dedication to enhancing educational standards in our nation serve as a beacon of hope for us all.

She also acknowledged the great roles being played by the the Hon. Minister of State, support from the staff of the Ministry, and all those who attended the stakeholders meeting. 

"In closing, let us carry forward the spirit of collaboration and dedication showcased here today as we work together toward a brighter future for Education in our beloved nation." she stated