The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, has disclosed the Federal Government’s commitment to phasing out the issue of out-of-school children that plagues the country. He commended the Akwa Ibom State governor, Umo Éno, for the state’s efforts in developing basic education infrastructure.
This information was conveyed in a press statement issued by the Press Unit of the Government House in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Sunday.
While visiting the remodelled Christ the King School on Wellington Bassey Way, Uyo, during his trip for the University of Lagos 1984 Law Class reunion, Minister Mamman expressed his admiration for the state government’s initiatives and contributions. He characterized these efforts as creating an “inviting environment and incentive to enhance school enrollment.”
The minister highlighted that this approach aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of reversing the decline in school enrollments, emphasizing the necessity for cooperation among local government, state, and federal authorities to achieve this goal.
He said, “Indeed, there is hope for us as a country with the effort of all the governors and every body and the Federal Government working together collaboratively.
“For us at the federal level, particularly President Bola Tinubu, that is our area of focus. We want the out-of school children to be a matter of history, and this is the way to do it.”
Earlier, the governor said his administration’s determination to pay attention to education at the primary level was informed by the need to spur up the willingness and passion for education among school children.
He reiterated the need for collaboration between the state and Federal Government in revamping the primary education, healthcare, amongst others, to the advantage of the states and country in general.
“We call upon the Federal Government to support what we are doing. It is about children and the future of our children. Again, I want to underscore something here that the Federal and state government can collaborate,” he said.
Eno said his target is to replicate the model school across the 31 Local Government Areas, adding that the model will be complemented with teachers training to ensure a complete facelift for primary education in the state.
He stated further that his administration is comitted towards rural development and and upgrade in primary schools and healthcare facilities as a strategy to attain rural development.
“I am passionate about the rural development but you also know that education is the foundation. Lack of education carries with it a lot of danger. So our ambition is to see what we can do, not just the building. We will furnish it, train the teachers, ensure that we do a total facelift in our primary education.”
