President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Federal Ministry of Education to devise a plan to return over 20 million out-of-school children to classrooms.
Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, revealed this during the groundbreaking ceremony for National Examinations Council (NECO) offices in Shabu, Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State.
To implement this directive, Sununu said the ministry is leveraging the DOTS project—Data Repository, Out-of-School Children Education, Teacher Training and Development, and Skill Development and Acquisition.
The DOTS initiative will provide a data-driven approach for addressing out-of-school children and other educational issues. According to Sununu, the project will offer statistics on school enrollment, retention, and progression rates from kindergarten to university level.
“Out-of-school children represent a major focus in President Bola Tinubu’s eight-point agenda, with priority on social welfare, health, and education,” Sununu stated.
He emphasized that the president views the over 20 million out-of-school children as a crucial group that needs attention to prevent potential unrest and ensure Nigeria’s development. Tinubu believes these children must receive proper education and skills to become self-sufficient and relevant in society.
Sununu also described the out-of-school issue as a “time bomb” that must be addressed for the country’s progress. He noted that the DOTS project will enable the government to accurately census teachers, their qualifications, training, and compensation for effective planning.
The minister thanked Governor Abdullahi Sule and his colleagues for their ongoing support of the education sector and NECO through student enrollment in examinations.
