‘Nigeria Must Address Out-of-school Children Challenge’

The chairperson, Governing Board of the National Secondary School Education Commission (NSSEC), Ambassador Nimota Akanbi, has said Nigeria needs the political will to address the unprecedented out of school children crisis.

Akanbi therefore called for proper funding from federal, states and local governments to make the sector produce the desired results which will stimulate national development.

She stated this in a statement issued at the end of a five-day capacity training workshop for teachers in English-Language and Mathematics for North Central Geo-political zone held recently in Ilorin, kwara state which was signed by the head of press, Fatima Bappare.

The Ambassador also commended President Muhammadu Buhar and the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, for their support so far to the commission since the flag-off and inauguration of the Governing Board.

According to her, the education policy of the present administration has helped in no small way to improve the education of Nigerian students particularly at the secondary school education level.

She praised the federal government for making significant investment in the sector stressing that secondary school education lays foundation for life long living and human development.

The Chairperson of the commission was of the view that Nigeria needs the political will to address the unprecedented out of school children crisis which according to her, the Minister of Education is putting in all efforts to address.

She said, “Education is too strategic and sensitive to be left in the hands of the government alone hence the need for development partners to work in harmony with the Nigerian government.”

She further observed that inauguration of the board has further improved the education standards of the pupils due to various workshops and training programmes being organised.

She said that the training of those teachers in English-Language and Mathematics was an eye opener to the Commission, adding that the task before the Commission is enormous, but gradually working so hard with stakeholders from all the geo-political zones to resuscitate the Senior Secondary Education sub-sector in the country.

She enjoined  education  Agencies and Governors of all the 36 States of the federation and the Minister of FCT to work together to ensure that the Mandate, Mission and Vision of the Commission which includes to produce secondary school graduates with life skills and relevant academic qualifications for further studies are achieved as focus  on education is an instrument of launching nations into the world of science and technology.