By Oludamisi Ojo
The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has adduced reasons while his administration specifically introduced free education policy in public primary and secondary schools.
According to him, this is to combat increasing out-of-school children among children of school age.
Fayemi, represented by the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Adebimpe Aderiye, spoke in Ado Ekiti Ekiti, on Friday when a non-governmental organization ‘Citizens Intervention and Accountability Network (CIAN)’ submitted a proposal for a possible database for out-of-school children in Ekiti.
Fayemi praised the organization for identifying with the state.
He said the free Education Policy, Child’s Rights Act, School Feeding Programme, model and farmstead schools, Pad Bank for girls and Gender-Based Clubs, were measures initiated by the government to reduce the scourge.
“Governor Fayemi’s administration remains committed to zero tolerance for out-of-school children in Ekiti. I charge your organization to study the state model to check the trend and make recommendations on areas that still remain untapped and proffer solutions for partnership.
“I commend your organization and I promise that this proposal will be carefully and professionally considered after which another meeting will be organized for harmonization”.
The CIAN’s Programme and Planning Director, Mr. Samson Abraham, said the proposed collaborative grassroots information database with the government will help in tackling the rate of out-of-school children in the state.
Abraham said the move became imperative as a result of the alarming statistics reeled out that Nigeria has about 13.2 million out-of-school children.
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According to him, In order to check the trend, individuals, corporate organizations and others need to assist the government in getting the actual number of victims and how their cases can be settled for them to return to school.
“The statistics in circulation can’t be verified, except it is subjected to on- the- field assessment, so that we can proffer lasting solutions to identified reasons for the rise despite government’s massive investments in the sector,” he said.
He commended Fayemi stressing that Ekiti has the lowest out-of-school children put at three percent compared to other states that have as high as percent, saying there is more to be done to achieve a developed society.
Abraham said In achieving this, some of their strategic plans include identifying the children and location, reasons for not attending school, and their ideology about education while the government would be required to provide structures and logistics.
