FG Partners with Governors to Combat Out-of-School Children Crisis
The Federal Government is collaborating with state governors to address the persistent issue of out-of-school children across Nigeria, according to the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa.
Speaking during the 2025 Budget Defence session organized by the Joint Committee on Tertiary Institutions, TetFund, and Education in Abuja, Alausa highlighted the government’s commitment to tackling this challenge.
“We’re working together on this. It now has to be a collaborative effort on what we have to do. The number of out-of-school children is mind-boggling and disturbing. It is not in just one geopolitical region. It is everywhere,” Alausa said.
He revealed that the Ministry of Education has engaged with all 36 state governors, commissioners for education, and the FCT to develop solutions to the crisis.
The minister also lamented the neglect of Almajiri schools established under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, noting that only a few of the over 100 schools are functional.
“Of the over a hundred of the schools built for out-of-school children, only a few are operational. The funding of the Almajiri and Out-of-School Commission is not enough. We need more funding in this regard,” he stated.
Alausa emphasized the importance of human capital development in improving the education sector and boosting Nigeria’s global standing.
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“Without education, we can’t survive as a society. If you look at the human capital index, Nigeria has one of the lowest in the world,” he added.
Senator Muntari Dandutse, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TetFund, underscored the significance of education in national development. He called for strategic planning and effective resource allocation to address gaps in the education system.
“The proposed 2025 budget must introduce innovative strategies to tackle emerging challenges in the education sector,” Dandutse said.
