THE Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu has sought for assistance of the World Bank in reducing the number of Out-of-School children in Nigeria from 10 to 5 million by the year 2023.
The Director, Press and Public Relations in the ministry, Ben Bem Goong who disclosed this in a statement said the Minister made the remarks today in Abuja when a delegation of the World Bank, led by its Country Director, Mr. Shubham Chawdry, paid him a working visit.
He added that the mandate is in line with the current administration’s goal of ensuring that Nigerian children have access to qualitative education, irrespective of their economic backgrounds.
Adamu who expressed concern at the number of Out-of-School children in the country, said that the federal government is keen on reducing the number in addition to improving the standard of education in the country.
He said that the ministry was currently working with the World Bank on projects aimed at encouraging children back to school, particularly in the area of increased enrolment of the Girl-child.
While commending the Bank on its commitment to the development of the nation’s educational sector, Adamu expressed government’s readiness for better interventions that will tackle obstacles to the Out-of-School children phenomenon.
In his remarks, World Bank Director reiterated the organisation’s commitment to the improvement of the nation’s education sector.
Chawdry who emphasized that education is a a sure way of eliminating poverty, pledged the readiness of his organization to assist in financing more developmental projects.
The Country Director also declared the World Bank’s interest in long-lasting projects, adding that his organization will no longer dictate developmental projects but leave the decision to governments as they are in the best position to ascertain the needs of their citizens.