Over One Million Out-of-School Children Back in Classrooms

Over One Million Out-of-School Children Back in Classrooms – Dr Alausa
Expands Digital Learning, School Infrastructure in Kano
FG Targets More School Enrolment

The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, says more than one million out-of-school children have returned to classrooms over the past 24 months under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative.

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Eko Hot Blog reports that Alausa disclosed this during an inspection tour of federal education projects in Kano State, where he reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding access to quality education, digital learning and improved school infrastructure.

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The minister was accompanied by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, alongside senior officials from the Federal Ministry of Education, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), and the Kano State Ministry of Education.

Over One Million Out-of-School Children Back in Classrooms - Dr Alausa

The inspection covered the Bilingual School in Ungogo, the JICA-supported Junior Secondary School in Lenge, Federal Government College (FGC), Kano, the National Commission for Mass Education office and Tarda Smart School.

Speaking during the visit to the Bilingual School in Ungogo, Alausa said the project was more than 90 per cent complete and would be delivered before the end of August.

He directed that preparations for teacher recruitment and school operations begin immediately to enable the admission of the first set of learners in September.

The minister also disclosed that two additional bilingual schools are under construction to help integrate Almajiri and other vulnerable children into the formal education system.

At the Federal Government College, Kano, Alausa commissioned a renovated digital e-library equipped with solar power, air conditioning, improved lighting and about 80 computer workstations.

Over One Million Out-of-School Children Back in Classrooms - Dr Alausa

He described the facility as a significant step towards equipping students with the digital skills required for the future.

The minister further revealed that the Tinubu administration inherited 36 abandoned e-library projects across Unity Colleges, adding that UBEC has rehabilitated 16 of them.

On the proposed Public-Private Partnership land swap initiative at the college, Alausa maintained that the project would go ahead, noting that optimising underutilised land would provide resources for classrooms, hostels and other critical infrastructure.

He, however, assured stakeholders that the ministry remained open to constructive engagement with the school’s alumni association and other development partners.

At Tarda Smart School, the minister praised a student who developed an Artificial Intelligence-powered school application designed to improve teaching, learning, attendance monitoring and communication between schools and parents.

He directed UBEC’s Digital Platforms and Analytics Department to engage the student and explore opportunities to support the innovation.

Over One Million Out-of-School Children Back in Classrooms - Dr Alausa

The Kano State Commissioner for Education, Ali Haruna, commended the Federal Government’s investment in the state’s education sector, noting that the partnership with the state government has improved access to education, school infrastructure and learning outcomes.