The Representative of World Bank, Dilip Parajuli has pleaded with the federal and state governments to please put in more money for the investment of basic education to help tackle the menace of out of school children in the country.
Parajuli, who stated this during the official launch of the newly established National Commission for Almajiri and Out of school Children Education office in Abuja on Friday, said putting in money is critical going forward for the next 10 to 20 years.
He said: “We plead to the states to please use the money efficiently, transparently in an accountable manner, that’s also important.”
While noting that out of 52 million children, 40 million of them cannot read at age of 10 and this is reflecting the latest learning crisis, he said, “We are very proud to supporting 17 focus states in the north and a result of that we supported five million Almajiri kids to get opportunity for formal education but that results have to be sustained going forward.”
Speaking at the event Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman said it is time for action and implementation as the talking time is over.
“It is our plan that by the end of the year or along the way, the mileages will be obvious and clear to the direction we are heading and it is not only this commission who is involved in the handling of out of school children, there are three other commissions that has some responsibilities and what we want to do is some coordination to ensure that there is no wastages and high waste bureaucracy,” he said.
“Like I always said, we plan too long and we talk too long with very little results in critical areas particularly in the areas of education and more so is at the area of basic education, so this is the time for us to face squarely and forcefully this monster which is causing problems everywhere,” he said.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the commission, Dr Sha’aban Ibrahim said the commission is dedicated for action on the reduction of the high number of out of school children and the integration of Quranic and Sangaya education
“With the opening of this headquarters, we stand as a symbol of hope, a beacon of opportunity for millions who have been denied their right to access to education. President Tinubu Renewed hope to return 10 million out of school children back to school by 2027 is a challenge we did not only accept, but embraced with dogged determination,” he said.
He however said, the road ahead may be long, but the destination is clear in Nigeria where every child regardless of circumstance has the chance to learn to grow and to contribute to Nations progress.