By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Federal Government on Monday announced 6-Point Initiatives as critical areas to prioritize in the ongoing efforts to transform and revitalize the education sector in Nigeria.
The six key priority areas are: promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical Sciences (STEMM), education, Reducing the Number of Out-of-School Children, Enhancing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), advancing Girl-Child Education, Harnessing Data and Digitalization and Strengthening Quality Assurance Mechanisms.
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, who announced this in Abuja during a meeting with the 36 State and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioners of Education, said the review of the roadmap of his predecessor, was not a policy summersault.
According to him this was in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
He said: “In alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, the Federal Ministry of Education has prioritized six critical pillars to transform our education system.
“Let me reassure everyone, that there is no policy somersault here. The DOTS strategy of Data Repository, Out-of-School Children Education, Teacher Training, and Skill Development and Acquisition remains intact and are all embedded in our new initiative.
“What we have done is to strip 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 noted that engagement with the 36 State and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioners of Education, along with Secretaries of Education, was to address the growing challenges in Nigeria’s education sector.
Alausa added that the meeting centered on developing a comprehensive reform agenda where state commissioners were expected to key into government initiatives to improve educational standards in the country.
“This gathering is pivotal in aligning our 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.
“At the Federal Ministry of Education, we promise to assist your forum in various ways to make it stronger and responsive in discharging its duties for more efficiency and better coordination,” he said.
While underscoring the importance of reforms in the education, the Minister reminded the Commissioners and Secretary of Education that education was not merely a sector, but the bedrock of the nation’s prosperity, a foundation for equity, and a catalyst for innovation.
“Today, our mandate is clear: we must collectively address the pressing challenges facing education in Nigeria while advancing reforms that promote inclusivity, equity, and excellence,” he stressed.
Alausa urged them to form a strong Council of Commissioners of Education, which he promised that the Ministry would support because it would be difficult to relate with the commissioners individually.
He also emphasised the government’s commitment to investing in technical and vocational education to enhance the skills of Nigerian graduates.
“Our priority interventions within Nigeria’s Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI) for renewed hope are STEAM, TIVET, out-of-school children, girls’ education, data, and education quality assurance,” he noted.
“We will revamp Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TIVET) to equip graduates with skills that meet local and regional labor market demands.”
On her part, the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, stated that the Ministry is focused on reducing the number of out-of-school children.
She added, “Another key priority area is technical and vocational education, which will help our children cope with the demands of the 21st century.
“If we want to reduce the number of out-of-school children, we need to engage the states to work together and adopt strategies at the state level,” she said.
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