The Federal Government has announced a renewed commitment to tackling the rising number of out-of-school children through enhanced collaboration with key stakeholders. In pursuit of this goal, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed all stakeholders in the basic education sub-sector to intensify efforts to return children to classrooms across the nation.
Education Minister Tunji Alausa disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during a three-day meeting with executive chairmen of the State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The meeting, themed “Strengthening Collaboration for Quality Basic Education Delivery in Nigeria,” was organised by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant (SSA), Dr. Ismaila Adiatu, Alausa reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s dedication to transforming the education sector to drive national development. He emphasised the government’s resolve to address the pressing challenge of out-of-school children and enhance the delivery of quality basic education nationwide.
“I would like to assure you of the Federal Government’s commitment to promoting quality education to inspire Renewed Hope, with strong emphasis on prioritising qualitative basic education, which is recognised as the most vital segment of the education sector,” Alausa stated.
He highlighted that the development of foundational education is critical to the broader educational system and its role in fostering national progress. The minister outlined key focus areas, including improving teacher quality, enhancing school environments, ensuring the availability of instructional materials, and implementing robust quality assurance measures.
Alausa also revealed that the government had established a committee to categorise schools nationwide to identify areas requiring urgent intervention. “These efforts are designed to prepare Nigerian youths for the 21st-century economy, in line with Mr. President’s initiative of ‘Education for Renewed Hope,’” he added.
The minister urged participants to reassess existing strategies and adopt innovative approaches to implementing basic education. He advocated for exploring alternative funding sources and fostering deeper collaboration to ensure every Nigerian child receives quality education.
UBEC’s Executive Secretary, Aisha Garba, underscored the significance of the gathering as a demonstration of collective commitment to ensuring inclusive and equitable access to basic education. “We must prioritise our society-based education by ensuring effective collaboration at national and state levels within the education sector and beyond,” she asserted.
Garba emphasised the importance of the workshop in evaluating progress, identifying challenges, and mapping out strategies to strengthen the basic education system.
On behalf of the SUBEB chairmen, Prof. Adaramaja Shehu expressed optimism that the meeting would yield actionable strategies to enhance school effectiveness and improve learning outcomes. He called on his colleagues to intensify efforts to eradicate the challenge of out-of-school children nationwide.
The Federal Government’s renewed focus on strengthening collaboration and adopting innovative strategies signals a decisive step toward addressing one of the most pressing educational challenges in Nigeria. Stakeholders are expected to implement the outlined measures to ensure that every child in the country has access to quality basic education, in alignment with the ‘Education for Renewed Hope’ initiative.