Shettima, Kalu, Abiodun decry rising population of uneducated kids, urge action

Vice President Kashim Shettima, yesterday, described the number of out-of-school children in the northern region as “frightening”, harping on the urgency for specific actions to prioritise education, especially of the girl-child. 

“We cannot allow ourselves to be held hostage by these frightening numbers as the consequences are dire and far-reaching. Now is the time to treat them as an emergency, and the only way forward is to take specific action plans that address the unique needs and barriers in each region,” Shettima declared at the event, attended by development partners, including the World bank, UNICEF, British Council, Oando Foundation, UNESCO, FCDO, Newglobe, Platform Petroleum. 

Represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Hadejia, the Vice President added: “This is a mirror from which we cannot afford to look away because the consequences are dire and far reaching.”
 
Earlier, Chairman of the NGF and governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, expressed concern over the rising number of uneducated children, pervasive learning poverty, and the insufficient capacity of teachers to foster empowerment through education. He lamented that despite efforts to reverse the situation, the empowerment of the girl child is still hindered by inadequate access to quality education.

EQUALLY, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, yesterday, deplored the situation.

At an event in Abuja to mark the global event,  Kalu regretted that situation had disproportionately affected the girl-child.

According to a 2020 UNICEF report, girls constitute over 60 per cent of the out-of-school population, a problem that is worsened by barriers such as insecurity and economic disadvantages, especially in rural conflict-affected areas.