Insecurity Increasing Number Of Out Of School Children, Says FG

Nigeria's Minister of Education Adamu Adamu says the unsolved insecurity in the country is a major cause of the rising number of out-of-school children. 

The Minister spoke at Abuja during the ministerial session of the 66th National Council on Education (NCE), with the theme ‘Strengthening of Security and Safety in Nigerian Schools for the Achievement of Education 2030 Agenda.

He said though the government has been working towards reducing the number of out-of-school children and the illiteracy level in the country, insecurity has remained a major threat to the goal.

Adamu Adamu insisted that schools must be safe for all.

“I’d like to call on all states to rise up to their responsibilities and provide a safe and secure learning environment for both students and teachers, he calls.

Also speaking, the  Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Opiah said incessant attacks on schools, churches, mosques, roads, railway stations, villages and towns were destabilising the education system, eating deep into “the foundations of our existence and exposing the sector to traumatic experiences.”

He said this trauma could put the education system in a comatose state if nothing was urgently done. 

While speaking on the issue as well, UNICEF Chief Education Officer, Saadhna Panday-Soobrayan reveals attacks on schools have “devastating short and long-term consequences on the wellbeing of children and communities.” 

Despite the government's repeated claims of tackling insurgency and unrest in many parts of the country, insecurity has remained a major problem amongst many bedevilling the current administration.