By Richard Thomas
The Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Salihu Abdulwaheed Adelabu has reiterated the commitment of the state government at reducing the number of out-of-school children in the state.
The commissioner made the point at a one day programme organised by Civil Society Network Programme on Peace and Restorative Justice (CSNEPRJ) And Other Stakeholders, held at Loyola College, Ibadan.
According to him, the menace of Out-Of-School Children which has attracted global attention will be properly addressed and proffer solutions to by government in order to tackle it with uttermost importance.
The Commissioner said the administration of Governor Makinde is working assiduously at
reducing the number of out-of-school children, urging stakeholders to join hands in the task of curbing the menace.
“The governor from inception of his administration cancelled payment of fee by pupils of public Primary and students of public Secondary Schools; he also made provision for free textbooks and exercise books; employment of 5000 teachers and 692 Education Officers to our Secondary Schools.
“These and many others have positively impact on the education of our children and reason for the population explosion in our Public Schools.
“In like manner, there is an ongoing project to mop up the Out-Of-School-Children of about 1.5 million currently in three states of the Federation namely Oyo, Adamawa and Katsina States to mention a few.
“The efforts of Non Governmental Organization like Civil Society Network on Peace and Restorative Justice (CSNEPRJ) and Other Stakeholders are also recognized and noted.
“The clarion call is that all hands must be on deck in ensuring that no child is left behind because a child left uneducated and untrained will become a menace to the ones educated and to the society at large.
“As a result, the state government through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology graciously approved the Stakeholders Roundtable Peer Review Forum on tackling of Out-Of-School-Children
menace through Alternative Education Programmes.
The commissioner called on parents and guidians to assist the fight in order to tackle the development headlong, just as he expressed optimism that with collective efforts, the issue would become a thing of the past in the state.
Speaking, the convener, Bishop Adegbolagun Ademola George, a Professor of behavioural Psychology, National Focal Person, Civil Society Network for Peace & Restorative Justice and Project Director, Child Rescue Project said the programme was aimed at addressing the aftermath effects of out of school children in our society.
He said much still needed to be done by government, parents and stakeholders on the issue in order to arrest the situation before it get out of hand.
According to him, the development often influence bad model in the society, saying the young minds need to be seriously guided by parents, adding that religious and cultural beliefs also play vita influence on the children.
He urged parents and guardian to always guide and encourage their young ones in the right path of life, noting that some of them are vulnerable to social vices, as many have joined yahoo society, while many young girls have been impregnated.
He appreciate the responses and effort of stakeholders who came to contribute their quota to the issue in the state, adding that this will serve as alternative to education for out of school children in the state and a nation as a whole.
The Keynote speaker, Professor Rasheed who described the programme as timely said the focus of the programme which is out of school children would serve as antidote on alternative to education.
“Government has invested so much in the education sector, a development which have people asking government what has happened to those investments.
“Out of school children are so much in the rural area, market place and others, many of which have no home. These are the target for the course, government need to support the course in order to achieve quality results on the issues.
“There is a limit to what NGO can do on this course, government needs to rise to the occasion, he added.
Also in his address, the representative of Arch Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu JP, Pastor Tunji Agboola, Director of Good Worker lamented the the rate at which out of school children increase day by day, saying the issue need to be tackle once and for all.
He said the impact of out of school children in our society has been on the negative side, adding that many of them often turn out to be hoodlums and miscreants.
While calling for proper funding of education, he noted that the nation is face with diver security issues, which need to be addressed too, adding that safety of education is not only for the students but the nation as a whole.
He urged the organizers of the programme to embark on massive awareness on the issue to achieve success in that regard
Other speakers included representative of the DSS, NSCDC, the Nigeria Police Force and host of others
