By Ngozi Nwankwo
Federal government has disclosed its resolve to work closely with government at all levels to reform Nigerian education system.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa said this at the consultative engagement with Honourable Commissioners for Education from the 36 states the Secretary for Education of the Federal Capital Territory,FCT, held in Abuja, on Monday.
Alausa said engaging commissioner of education from states was necessary to aligning federal government shared vision for education across all levels of government to drive national development.
“I am very happy for a forum like this, that would enable National and Sub-National Governments to align our policies and strategies to better the education of all Nigerians,” he said.
Acknowledging that education is the bedrock of the nation’s prosperity, a foundation for equity, and a catalyst for innovation, the Minister said that government at all levels must collectively address the pressing challenges facing education in Nigeria while advancing reforms that promote inclusivity, equity, and excellence.
During the consultation engagement, Alausa seized the occasion to unveil 6-point initiatives of the federal ministry of education.
He said, ” In alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR’s administration, the Federal Ministry of Education has prioritized six critical pillars to transform our education system.”
While explaining that Data Repository, Out-of-School Children Education, Teacher Training, and Skill Development and Acquisition,DOTS initiative of the former Minister of Education, Mamman remains intact and embedded in the New initiative, Alausa said the ministry only
stripped out six focal areas out of the DOTS strategy and focus on them.
“These aligns closely in the short, medium and long term with our Renewed Hope Agenda. These focal areas are encapsulated in our new Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI) programme, with the main strategic goal of moving Nigeria from a Resource based to a Knowledge based Economy,” he explained.
The Minister highlighted the six focus Pillars to include: Promoting STEMM Education; Reducing the Number of Out-of-School Children; Enhancing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET); Advancing Girl-Child Education.
Others include: Harnessing Data and Digitalization; and strengthening Quality Assurance Mechanisms.
Speaking on the STEMM, the Minister said the initiative is central to equipping students with skills needed for the 21st-century economy.
” We aim to strengthen STEMM curriculums, expand access to science laboratories, and foster partnerships that bring advanced technologies to schools,” he said.
In the area of Out-of- school children, he said, with over 10 million out-of-school children in Nigeria, the nation must confront this challenge head-on.
This, he said, must involves enhancing school enrollment programs, reducing barriers to education in underserved areas, and leveraging community engagement to return every child to the classroom. The definition of out-of-school would also be better defined in our context.
Speaking on TVET, Alausa said TVET programs are crucial for preparing Nigerian youths with hands-on skills that directly translate into employment opportunities.
“This requires upgrading our vocational centers, designing industry-relevant curriculums, and encouraging private-sector collaboration to bridge the skills gap. We will leverage other Government programmes such as Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Bank Of Industry (BOI), Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) and others to support entrepreneurs with single digit facilities,” he said.
According to him, education for the girl-child remains a priority as it has a multiplier effect on families, communities, and the nation.
He said federal government is committed to creating safe learning environments, promoting scholarships for girls, and addressing cultural barriers that hinder their educational progress.
The Minister, however, stressed the need for cooperation of state governments and the FCT in achieving the six- point agenda.
“These ambitious goals, the cooperation of state governments and the FCT is indispensable. Education is on the concurrent list, and our success hinges on effective collaboration, shared resources, and synchronized policies,” said the Minister.
He, therefore, called on Honourable Commissioners and Secretary to prioritize STEMM and TVET at the state level by ensuring sufficient budgetary allocation and innovative partnerships with private-sector stakeholders.
Alausa urged them to adopt localized strategies to identify and reintegrate out-of- school children, especially in conflict-prone areas, and expand alternative education programs for marginalized populations. Strengthen girl-child education initiatives by establishing
The Commissioners and Secretary were being advised to state-specific interventions that address local socio-cultural challenges; Leverage digital tools and data to improve governance and accountability in state education systems.