In a bid to address a critical issue facing the nation, the Ministry of Education in Nigeria is actively working towards reintegrating the approximately 20 million out-of-school children into the educational system within the next four years. Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, made this commitment during the 2024 budget defense before the joint committee of the National Assembly on Education in Abuja on Monday.
Highlighting the magnitude of the out-of-school children challenge in Nigeria, Mamman emphasized the need to tackle this issue as a top priority. He expressed the government’s determination to provide opportunities for as many children as possible to return to school, stating, “For those who cannot, we want to ensure they are empowered through short-term skills training that will give them the opportunity to connect with society to have a meaningful likelihood.”
The minister underscored the importance of producing graduates at the tertiary level with relevant skills and competence to contribute effectively to national development. He acknowledged the current concerns about the quality of products from universities and polytechnics and emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing this issue.
As part of the strategy to enhance the quality of education, Mamman revealed that the ministry has engaged with stakeholders to review Nigeria’s school curriculum, aiming to incorporate skills acquisition into the learning process. He encouraged universities to integrate skills training and entrepreneurship into their curricula, ensuring the production of self-reliant graduates.
For the 2024 fiscal year, the Ministry of Education has been allocated a total of N101.45 billion, with N5.88 billion designated for personnel costs, N1.08 billion for overhead costs, and N94.48 billion for capital expenditures.
In response to the ministry’s efforts, Rep. Aliyu Mustapha, Chairman of the House Committee on Alternative Education, expressed the House’s concern about the increasing number of out-of-school children in Nigeria. He commended the focus on vocational training and urged continued collaboration to address funding limitations and raise allocations for education in the country.
