President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday directed the Federal Ministry of Education to conduct a nationwide school census by November, 2013 to aid proper planning in the nation’s education sector.
Jonathan, represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, gave the directive in Abuja at a conference on education with the theme: “Accelerating Progress in the attainment of Education for all in Nigeria“.
He said that accurate information on school enrolment, especially at the basic and secondary levels, remained a serious challenge to the government.
The President said that when conducted, the census would complement the Nigeria Digest of Education Statistics: 2006-2010, produced by the ministry and launched in 2011.
“It is important to underline that accurate information on school enrollments, especially at the basic and secondary levels, remains a serious challenge.
“To aid proper planning and decision-making, it is necessary that we get the numbers right.
“I am therefore directing the Federal Ministry of Education to initiate an effective partnership with the States in conducting concurrent School Census across the States by November 2013.
“This will complement the Nigeria Digest of Education Statistics: 2006 – 2010, which was produced by the ministry and launched in 2011,’’ he said.
The President urged Nigeria’s development partners to support the effort with necessary technical input, across the states of the federation.
Jonathan also stressed the need for the return of community involvement in the management of educational institutions.
According to him, the youth must be encouraged to develop needed skills for their self-development through Small and Medium Enterprises.
He said a Government-Private Sector Partnership Committee on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) had since been inaugurated by the government to address the challenges of inadequate skilled manpower in the country.
He said the committee, chaired by Alhaji Aliko Dangote, would work closely with the private sector to re-position technical and vocational education and training for youth skills development, youth mobility, and skilled manpower for industries.
Jonathan stated that government planned to support individuals and groups with cash grants, through Conditional Cash Transfers, to enable them to establish and run small-scale businesses.
In his remarks, former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, said that Nigeria would benefit from an additional 250 million dollars global lifeline to support the development of universal basic education in the country.
According to him, a breakdown of the funds indicated that Global Partnership for Education and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have agreed to contribute $100 million each for the programme.
He did not, however, give insight into where the balance of $50 million would be sourced.
Earlier, the Minister of Education, Prof Ruqayyatu Rufa’i, expressed gratitude to the development partners for their support and contributions to uplifting the quality of basic education in the country.
