Education Ministry consolidates on continuity, consistency, commitment to human capital development for socio-economic transformation.

[FMINigeria]

                        "A coordinated approach has been adopted through identification of major challenges and development of a four year strategic plan for the development of the education sector between 2011 and 2015 ".  These were words of the Minister of Education, Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa'i in her scorecard delivered on Thursday, June 13, 2013 at the 2013 Ministerial Platform which held at the National Press Centre, Radio House, Abuja.

Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa'i pointed out that priorities and programmes of the Ministry aim at transforming the Nigerian economy to meet the future needs of Nigerian people; saying,  emphasis on continuity, consistency and commitment were key components of education and human capital development.

The Minister added that the plan by the administration supports the actualization of the Transformation Agenda in six focal areas – access, quality, strengthening the institutional management of education, teacher education and development, technical and vocational education, training and funding, partnerships, resource mobilization and utilization.

The Education Minister further explained that needs assessment exercise was conducted in public universities under federal and state governments and Federal Unity Colleges on staff and student population in relation to facilities, in order to spot areas of pressure, explore use of resources as well as take inventory of physical facilities and learning resources.

On the recommendations for intervention based on the report, she expressed the hope that when granted approval for implementation by Mr. President, the projected development for Nigerian universities will involve a commitment of over N100 billion.

She added that the Ministry has set up a government-private sector committee to enhance technical and vocational education, engaged political leaders to ensure greater commitment to education, increased funding of education and disbursement of FGN-Intervention Funds to states through the Universal Basic Education Commission as well as the disbursement of funds of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.

Development Rehabilitation of Infrastructure culled from MP2013 during the presentation of Hon. Minister of Education; Rugayatu Ahmed Rufa'i  To enhance child development at early stages, the Minister disclosed that the introduction of early childhood education, requiring all states in Nigeria to have early child education sections in public primary schools was proposed to reduce the number of out-of-school children with over 70,000 public primary schools enrolment target.

Also, the Minister listed the Almajiri Education Programme, which she said, has been launched under three models – integration of traditional Tsangaya/Quranic school, model boarding Almajiri schools, integration of basic education in established Islamiyyah and Ma'ahad Schools and mainstreaming the Almajiri system into basic education.  She further noted that 125 day and boarding schools have been constructed; adding  that while  80 schools have been  completed, 45 are in their final stages of completion.

Her words, "Access campaign on girl education, Almajiri education, Back-to-School Programme for boys in the South East, Nomadic fisher folks education programme and street children  education programme have been carried out across the country to promote access for diverse groups of people," she reiterated.

Professor Rufa'I further listed the revitalization of adult and youth literacy through improved enrolment in basic education, facilitated by the establishment of twelve new federal universities and encouragement of  private sector participation in tertiary education as having ensured provision of alternative access to higher education and the development of middle-level skills for industry-based training.

On the construction and rehabilitation of infrastructure, she noted that N86.7 billion was granted in support to basic education and N48.6 billion for MDG projects from 2010 to 2012.   "Over 500 classrooms, 82 libraries, support to the development of centres of excellence in science and technology through revision of curriculum to meet national objectives, teaching-learning resources and the Nigerian Universities Electronic Teaching and Learning Platform   were built in schools across the country."

In a backup presentation, the Minister of State for Education revealed that the provision of access to education for all Nigerian children of school age have been cushioned with assuring quality education that is effective, functional, relevant and of international standards.  "Bilateral cooperation with the Czech Republic in the development of TVET programme  for out of school boys  from ages 12 to18 in Nigeria and bilateral cooperation agreements with China, Korea and Japan have resulted in the creation of more access to basic education through the construction of classrooms and schools in various states.    "Basic education", he said, "is the constitutional responsibility of the States and Local governments.   The Federal Government only provides support through UBEC, to enable the sub-sector get out of its long neglect"; he explained.

While giving an opening remark, the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku had earlier averred that the education sector in the last two years has experienced huge improvements towards attaining quality assurance and comprehensive education practices.  "Over one hundred Almajiri schools and modern educational institutions have been built.   In the tertiary education, funds made available to State Polytechnics and Universities has brought about changes and progress to Nigerian education"; Maku noted.

Reactions to the presentations from the media, civil society organizations and the public featured questions on the number of out of school children in the country, constraints on admission into Nigerian universities, teachers' salaries, timely enrolment of university graduates for national service, making education a right rather than a privilege, the dichotomy between HND and B.sc holders in employment, the status of distance learning education and aptitude test for scholarship candidates.

While responding to the questions, the Education Minister explained that the University of Abuja situation is still being investigated, adding that the Nigerian University Commission has published the guidelines for the establishment of Universities in Nigeria for intending proprietors to adhere to.  She opined that State governments are not mandated to implement the policies issued by the federal government.

The provision of hostels in Universities, she said, will be looked into through collaborating with TET Fund on needs assessment.   "It is the target of government to rid the country of street children and children who are out of school.   School children should be made to believe in the habit of hard work before promotion"; she remarked.



Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria