…call for 20% of the budget allocation for education
…According to FG, the state spent N4.6 trillion on education in 2024.
Vice President Kassim Shettima has described Nigeria’s more than 20 million out-of-school children as a ticking time bomb that needs immediate solutions.
Speaking at the International Conference on the Education of Girls in Nigeria held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Shettima said that if not addressed, this menace would pose a threat to their fellow children in the future.
Mr. Shettima said the statistics on out-of-school children in Nigeria were a stark reminder of the urgency of action needed to curb the rising rates.
“The latest Multi-Indicator Cluster Survey shows that 25.6 per cent of primary school children are out of school, and this proportion rises to 29.6 per cent for secondary school age children. One day payment is the responsibility of the nation.
“Therefore, we must remember that a child who remains out of school today is a threat to his or her friends who will be in the classroom tomorrow. The need for innovative solutions is now greater than ever. ”
He noted that the problem required urgent relief, especially in northern Nigeria.
According to a BusinessDay study, states in the North West and North East, particularly Kebbi, Zamfara and Bauchi states, have the highest out-of-school rates.
According to statistics, more than 60 percent of elementary school children do not attend school, and Kebbi is among the staggering 64.8 percent. The figures for secondary schools are equally alarming, with Bauchi at 66.75%, Kebbi at 63.8% and Jigawa at 62.6%.
Also read: How Nigeria’s 18.3 million out-of-school children are crippled the economy
“The stakes are too high for us to hesitate. The risks posed by each child out of school should concern us all, and what we need is a coordinated, multidisciplinary Our approach is to bring together federal, state, local government, civil society, and donor community partners with a single focus on ensuring that all Nigerian children have access to quality education, regardless of gender or geography. We must unite with this.”
Pointing out that “the dignity of the girl child defines every civilization,” Shettima said, “Today we are bound by a higher duty than simply observing the challenges before us. We have a responsibility to set the tone for this country, and there is nothing more important than prioritizing the education of girls and others. This has dire and far-reaching consequences, so we cannot look away. is.
“We cannot allow ourselves to be held hostage by these frightening numbers. Now is the time to treat them as an emergency, and the only way forward is to address each region’s unique needs and barriers. It’s about making a concrete action plan.
Shettima noted that education funding remains a key aspect of the strategy, adding that education spending has increased significantly in recent years.
“For example, in 2022, states spent N1 trillion on education, representing 12 percent of total spending. By 2024, states will spend N2.4 trillion on education, and the federal government will has allocated 2.2 trillion naira, which brings the total allocation to 4.6 trillion naira.
“States allocate 14 percent of their budgets to education, but we need to aim even higher.
ALSO READ: UNICEF calls for action on out-of-school children in Nigeria
Our campaign to allocate 15 to 20 percent of the national budget to education is not just a goal, it is a necessity, as it is the surest way to secure the future of our children and our country. ”
Speaking on the education of girls, Shettima said that while the problem exists in every country, her vulnerability is particularly pronounced in our region.
“Her education is more than just a moral obligation; it is a stabilizing force in our economic and social order, and each additional year a girl attends increases her future earnings. Chances increase, infant mortality rates decrease, and poverty levels in communities decrease.
“This is reflected in the gender equality index, which shows that girls have almost caught up with boys at primary school level, with a ratio of 0.99, and outpaced boys at secondary school level, with a ratio of 1.08.
“But these gains are at risk unless we strengthen interventions to reach all girls, especially in areas where barriers remain the strongest. This is why the National Economic Council is committed to supporting the rapidly changing world adopted education as one of the key thematic areas of intervention, alongside health, nutrition and employability, and set out to secure the future of girls.
“We have set an ambitious goal of achieving a score of 0.6 on the World Bank Human Capital Index, and the path to this goal includes increasing years of schooling and improving the quality of education. , we understand that it is necessary to eliminate children, especially girls, from being left vulnerable or out of school.
“The threats before us are real, but the opportunities to create important change are also real. This gathering shows us the way forward. Advocacy and awareness campaigns driven by development programs must be combined with practical interventions, such as increasing budgetary allocations to the education sector. Each stakeholder in this ecosystem needs to ensure that our efforts are effective. We need to collaborate and adopt review mechanisms to lead to real progress.
“Whatever reforms we adopt to create safe spaces to educate girls must be supported within our communities. Policy decisions involve all of us. We need to make sure that local leaders, traditional rulers and religious figures understand the consequences of neglecting to educate the future of this country.
In his address, Education Minister Tahir Mamman said the government will announce an approved framework that will ensure the country’s mission of quality education.
“Starting today, you are going to hear a lot about frameworks that provide and guarantee quality education for young people, and frameworks that enable young people to acquire some skills. This is the new dimension of university. Even if you don’t go to school, by the time you finish your basic secondary education, you will have acquired the skills to connect with society.”
