FG: There’s a roadmap to address out-of-school children menace

The federal government says it has developed a roadmap to address the problems of out-of-school children in Nigeria.

According to NAN, Ismail Junaidu, executive secretary of Nigerian Educational Research Development Council (NERDC), spoke in an interview in Abuja.

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in its 2022 reports, estimated that Nigeria has over 20 million out-of-school children and youths.

Junaidu said the federal government is very “serious” about getting out-of-school children back into the classrooms.

“Lately, this government is very serious about getting the out-of-school children back to school,” he said.

“A roadmap has been developed and when you look at the roadmap, there is heavy concentration on the need to have out-of-school children reduced.

“There is also an emphasis on skills acquisition. Now, in the senior secondary schools, no child will graduate without having a trade – is it hair plaiting, garment making, fisheries, e.t.c.

“This is put in place so that by the time the child finishes, that child can decide to stop and do his/her own business or proceeds to the university, polytechnics or colleges of education.

“He or she has something to hold on to, so this government is giving every attention to skills acquisition to help take the students off the street.”