Out-of-school kids: FG to embark on mass education programme

The Federal Government has said it would embark on a mass education programme to cater to the rising population of out-of-school children and illiterate adults in the country.

The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Prof Abubakar Haladu, stated this in Abuja at a press briefing, noting that the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, had given approval to the programme.

Haladu called on state and local governments to assist in “providing the necessary materials support for the eradication of illiteracy in their respective areas of jurisdiction.”

The NMEC boss said, “While we acknowledge that many challenges remain in the fight against illiteracy, we note that the present government is concerned and has taken decisive efforts to address the emerging challenges. The commission has developed an operational plan for a National Mass Literacy Programme, which is currently receiving the attention of the minister of education.

“But, while the Federal Government is making efforts to address the challenges of soaring adult, youth illiteracy and out-of-school children, the difficult task cannot be accomplished without the support of states and local government councils. They are the ones statutorily responsible for the provision of basic education including adult literacy. I therefore urge them to deploy the political will and provide the necessary materials for the eradication of illiteracy in their respective areas.

“Such support will include the establishment of adult literacy classes and vocational skill acquisition centres, the recruitment and payment of part-time literacy facilitators, the provision of teaching and learning materials and logistics for monitoring and evaluation of mass education programmes.”

(Punch)