FG Don Begin Plan to Enrol 500,000 Out-of-School Children

 
The Federal Government don start new programme to reduce number of out-of-school children and tackle literacy wahala for Nigeria.

Through the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education (NMEC), government on Tuesday for Abuja begin two-day training for enumerators on how to use automated data collection tools.

Acting Executive Secretary of NMEC, Dr. John Onimisi, wey dey coordinate the Needs Assessment Team, talk say di programme dey target to enrol over 500,000 learners for di first phase.

E yan say di exercise go capture data of youths aged 15 and above wey either drop out of school or never get chance to continue formal education.

Onimisi also talk say programme no go just dey focus on literacy; e go still dey provide vocational training, so learners fit enter skill acquisition programmes after dem complete non-formal education cycle.

“Our goal na make sure sey these learners enter non-formal education centres and we support dem make dem complete di programme well. Some go still move go vocational training afterwards,” Onimisi yan.

E talk say di scheme go cover all 774 local government areas for di country, with 376 enumerators from 36 states plus FCT wey don already get training, while 250 facilitators go drive di exercise for Abuja.

To make sure say everything dey transparent, Onimisi talk say data monitoring go happen in real-time through dashboard wey connect to National Identity Management System (NIMS), wey go allow proper tracking and follow-up of learners.

E add say, “This na di first big literacy data exercise by NMEC since 2010 National Literacy Survey, and di delay na because of funding wahala. Dis new move show sey government don serious again to close literacy gap.”

The first literacy cycle go last six to nine months, depending on contact hours.

Onimisi commend Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) for supporting di intervention.

NMEC’s Director of Programmes, Mr. Samuel Aziba, yan say di training go equip enumerators with digital tools for data collection, and pilot phase go start for four FCT locations before national rollout.

NMEC estimate say Nigeria get over 30 million non-literate adults as of 2021, showing why government intervention dey urgent.