The Senate has resolved to hold a national summit on the issue of out of school children in collaboration with the federal government and other stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the menace.
By Haruna Salami
The Senate has resolved to hold a national summit on the issue of out of school children in collaboration with the federal government and other stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the menace.
The resolution was sequel to the consideration of the report of the Committee on Education (Basic & Secondary) on the “compelling need to tackle the challenge of Out of School Children in Nigeria presented by the chairman, Senator Usman, Lawal Adamu (Kaduna Central).
The report said the issue of about 20 million out of school children in Nigeria was a very serious one as it is at the root of the insecurity ravaging the country.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio said the proposed summit will involve the federal, state and local governments, traditional rulers, parents, development partners, civil society organisations and all major stakeholders in education sector to bring holistic solution to the menace of our of school children in Nigeria.
According to him, solving the problem of 20 million out of school children, who he described as “potential bandits and a great danger”, will go a long way solving the problem of insecurity in the country.
He said “if you send your children to Cambridge, Harvard, they can’t come back home for fear of being raped and killed by bandits, adding that you can’t be sitting here as senator and your house is occupied by bandits.
“I have colleagues who are now ministers who have not been to some places in Borno for five years. They built houses and abandoned those houses. It started from out of school children; it is a very serious issue.
“Let us look at the legislation and see where it falls short and amend it.
He said the payment of primary school teachers’ salaries fall squarely on the table of the local government and that was why the Senate applauded the ruling of the Supreme Court judgement on local government autonomy.
In his contribution to the debate on the menace of out-of-school children in the country, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin he felt compelled to comment on this report because the issue is very important. It is a serious problem that, if we leave it unattended, it is a kind of time bomb, and once it explodes, it will consume us, particularly the Northern part of this country.
“Because the number of children roaming our streets without going to school needs our attention, it is a serious problem. It is a problem that the solution is beyond the federal government alone or any tier of government. It should have an all-inclusive attention. Local, state, and federal governments, traditional and religious leaders, and even parents all have a role to play.
“I feel happy that the committee concluded by saying that addressing out-of-school children in Nigeria demands concerted efforts across all: National, state, local governments, parents, traditional rulers, development partners and so on. Because the Federal government can’t do it alone, state governments can’t. So, everybody has to come together; we all must come together.
“When you go to the lowest level, the parents, there must be a reorientation of those who feel that schools or education are unimportant. Let them understand the value of education.
“The Federal government should also make sure that there is reorientation for parents to know that they have to train their children properly, as prescribed by two prominent religions in the country – Islam and Christianity.
“Religions give that responsibility to the parents to make sure that they take care of their children. So, allowing kids to roam on the streets in the first place is not something that Islam accepts without giving them the proper care. It is also something that is not acceptable to Christianity. That has to be said loud and clear.
“The re-orientation has to commence immediately so that parents should know that they need to do that. Then, it is important for all stakeholders, as said by several colleagues, to sit down and find a lasting solution to this problem”.
The Senate Chief Whip, Tahir Monguno (Borno North) while contributing to the debate recalled with nostalgia h8s personal story of enrollment into school in those days when the ward head would identify school age children and then taken to school compulsorily.
He said in boarding school the food served to the students was far better than the one served at home and that was what kept the students interested in school.
“I was given Nido (milk), chicken and pocket money when travelling home”, adding that while in the school, his uniforms were washed and ironed for him.
According to him, this was what made pupils and students take interest in education and which is lacking bin the educational system today.
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