NUT Refutes UNESCO Report On Nigeria

THE Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has described the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO) report on Nigeria’s education as incorrect, saying the reports did not take into consideration the laudable changes in the system.

Speaking during the week, the National President of NUT, Mr. Michael Olukoya, said the recent World Children’s Report on Nigeria, announced by UNESCO was incorrect. He praised Nigeria’s education policy, saying the only problem it has is poor implementation.

Olukoya said on April 9, UNESCO in its report listed Nigeria, Chad, Pakistan and Ethiopia as some of the countries off the six key educational goals in 164 countries, achievable between 2000 and 2015.

The report launched in Paris, New York, indicated that Nigeria has the highest number of children out-of-school.

According to the report, three-quarters of the nations affected by the UNESCO report have not reduced illiteracy and gender disparities beyond average at the secondary school level.

While Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Pakistan and Ethiopia were said to be off the 2015 target, countries like Afghanistan, Nepal, India, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Rwanda were lauded for their efforts.

Olukoya, however, called on the President-elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to make education his priority.