The National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education (NCAOOSCE), has solicited the support of the Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN) in eradicating the menace of out-of-school children.

Its Executive Secretary, Alhaji Muhammed Idri, made the appeal when he paid a courtesy visit to the CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh in Abuja.

Idris disclosed that the visit was part of the commission’s continuous advocacy in the Southern part of the country in a bid to eradicate the out-of-school syndrome.

He said the partnership was crucial to the success of the project as it would enable the Commission to engage with the Christian community for a better understanding of its mandate.

Idris explained that the present administration was determined to drastically reduce the number of out-of-school children in the country, to prevent them from being used to cause havoc in the society.

”We have about 30 million Almajiri children, they are a group of young men who are out to memorise the Holy Qur’an but unfortunately their parents have adjudicated their responsibilities by not taking care of them.

” And as such, you see them across the length and breadth of this country. Mr President feels that this is an issue that has to be addressed.

”If you have 30 million that cannot contribute to the growth of the GDP, then we are shortchanging this country.

”Some countries are depending on their numerical strengths, why should we allow this?,” he said.

The executive secretary also requested for the nomination of two knowledgeable clergymen on education that would join other stakeholders during its upcoming retreat, to draw up a road-map to tackle the menace.

Okoh, while responding, pledged to collaborate with the commission, calling for fairness and equity to ensure that no segment of the region was left out of the advocacy.

”Part of the problems we have today is because our young people are not doing anything but we must find a way to engage them in occupation or a strong apprenticeship system.

”This will help younger people, they don’t really have to go to school but we must be able to consider the areas of interest of these young people,” he said .

Okoh appealed to the commission to consider the areas of interest of the children that were being taken off the streets and back to school, as some of them would prefer to have vocational skills. (NAN)