10m Out-of-School Children Threatening Education System – UBEC

The executive secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Aisha Garba, has expressed concern over the future of basic education in Nigeria,

She lamented that over 10 million children of school age lack access to education.

To stem the drift, she said the commission would continue to collaborate with education stakeholders across the States of the federation to rescue stranded children from the streets to classrooms.

Speaking in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital, during the 4-day engagement and sanitisation meeting with Education Commissioners and Chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in South South and South East States under the aegis of Hope Governance programmes, the conferees stressed the need for effective implementation and delivery of the policy.

She insisted that a partnership with the States remains a sure way to salvage the vulnerable children for enrollment in the education system.

Garba maintained that the HOPE-EDU of the Federal Government initiative was designed to improve the quality of basic education in the country.

Represented by Mr Rasaq Akinyemi, Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical), Garba, who stated this in her message to the three-day sensitisation workshop for stakeholders from South South and South East in Uyo on Tuesday, called for a holistic action plan to stem the scourge, adding that the programme would improve learning outcomes for more than 29 million children in the country.

The UBEC executive secretary added that the programme would ensure a reduction in out-of-school children and overcrowded classrooms.

Garba explained that the programme focused on improving learning outcomes, expanding access to quality education, and strengthening education systems aimed at improving foundational learning, enhanced literacy and numeracy skills, especially in rural areas.

According to her, “the programme adopts a performance-based approach, tying funding to actual progress and measurable results.”

“HOPE-EDU is more than a funding, mechanism, it is a promise fulfilled. Align seemlessly with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, this initiative targets the heart of our challenges in basic education.

“Improving learning outcomes for over 29 million children, empowering 500, 000 teachers, constructing 13, 000 new classrooms, bringing back over 1.5 million out of school children nationwide,” Garba said.

The Akwa Ibom State commissioner for education, Prof. Ubong Umoh, the Chairman of SUBEB, Mr. Anietie Etuk, and other stakeholders welcomed the initiative and stressed the for effective implementation to address the school basic sector malaise.