The Honourable Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman OON SAN, unveiled sweeping reforms aimed at transforming Nigeria’s Education Sector during the Quarterly Citizens and Stakeholders Engagement on Ministerial Deliverables held in Abuja.
In a bid to address the pressing issue of Out-of-School Children, the Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu, has enrolled two million Almajiri Children into Basic and Arabic Literacy Programs. Mamman emphasized the Government’s commitment to reducing the number of Out-of-School Children and disclosed plans to introduce courses on Skills Development and Acquisitions at the Basic Education and Secondary level.
The Ministry has embarked on various initiatives to enhance Education accessibility and quality, including the development of guidelines for inclusive Basic Education, upgrading of research facilities, and sponsoring innovation programs for aspiring inventors. Additionally, over 70,000 Teachers and non-teaching Staff have undergone training to improve Educational standards.
Addressing challenges such as insecurity and fake certificates, Prof. Mamman assured proactive measures, including collaboration with security Agencies and crackdowns on certificate forgery. Furthermore, “as Government Schools receive innovative ideas, training, and support to enhance their standards, Private Schools in Nigeria will inevitably need to significantly lower their fees which will ensure accessibility for all Students in Nigeria” he said.
In solidarity with these efforts, Hon. Dr Yusuf Tanko Sununu, Minister of State for Education, emphasized the importance of Technology in addressing the learning crisis and promoting Skill Development. The Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, voiced concerns over rising exam fees and the influx of Children into Lagos schools, highlighting the need for Policy interventions.
The Commander of the National Safe School Response Coordination Centre, Dr Hammed Abodunrin, emphasized the urgency of prioritizing Security Education, while Dr Mikayla Ibrahim of the British High Commission commended Nigeria’s efforts in enhancing basic Education, particularly through the GEP III project.
During the event, Ministerial deliverables and achievements for the first quarter of 2024 was presented, allowing for Citizens feedback and interaction with the Ministers. In subsequent quarters, Citizens will assess the Ministry’s performance independently and present their own scorecards, fostering ongoing dialogue and collaboration between Citizens, Government, and Stakeholders. All Citizens, Organizations, Schools, Academia, and Media are urged to participate actively, contributing to the advancement of the Education sector and the Nation as a whole.
In her vote of thanks, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack OON, mni expressed deep gratitude for the presence and insightful contributions of the Honourable Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, and acknowledged the significant roles played by the Minister of State and all attendees, urging continued collaboration for the advancement of Education in Nigeria.
Folasade Boriowo
Director Press & PR
Phone number:08102393272
Email:press@education.gov.ng
