With approximately 20 million children out of school, educationists have called on the federal and state governments to establish more schools to accommodate them.
Nigeria is grappling with a significant educational crisis fuelled by poverty, insurgency, and displacement.
In response to this alarming situation, the Director of the Federal Education Quality Assurance Service (FEQAS), Dr Tokunbo Yakubu-Oyinloye, said establishing more schools has become imperative.
Also, a teacher at Mulero High School in Agege, Lagos State, who preferred anonymity, told News Agency of Nigeria that governments should develop and effectively implement more policies to address the root causes of the menace.
Speaking with NAN yesterday, Yakubu-Oyinloye said, “The federal and state governments will have to come together to determine how to establish more schools.
She also emphasised the importance education quality assurance, saying it was key to ensuring standards.
According to the Director, FEQAS ensures that education standards are maintained in all schools below the tertiary level.
Similarly, an engineer, Mr Segun Olawole, told NAN that tackling out-of-school syndrome in Nigeria would require a multi-faceted approach.
“Addressing the issue requires the commitment of governments, civil societies, communities, and families.
“Governments should increase funding of the education sector and allocate more resources for programmes to address out-of-school syndrome,” he said.
Olawole said that despite governments’ efforts so far, the number of children out of school has continued to increase.
He said efforts should be intensified by the three tiers of government, families, communities, and civil society groups to address the menace adequately.
According to the teacher at Mulero High School in Agege, governments should develop and effectively implement more policies to address the root causes of the menace.
He listed the causes as poverty, conflict, and cultural barriers.
The teacher also urged establishment of alternative education programmes, such as non-formal education or vocational training programmes, to cater for children not in formal schools.
Mr Adebayo Olu-Adekoya of Adekoya Motors and Technical Services, Lagos, told NAN that governments should raise awareness among communities, particularly rural communities, about the importance of education.
“Governments should organize awareness campaigns to sensitize communities and families about the importance of education,” he said.
A principal, Mrs Adetoro Habeeb, said, “Communities and governments should work together to decrease the number of out-of-school children.
“Governments should support community-based initiatives that provide education and skills to out-of-school children.
“Governments and community leaders should also provide support, such as conditional cash transfers and scholarships, to families to enable them to send their children to school,” said Habeeb, a school principal.
