The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Tanko Yusuf Sununu, announced the commencement of a new project implementation plan aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s priority on education and addressing out-of-school children.
Prof. Sununu revealed that President Tinubu has approved the Federal Ministry of Education to implement a project called DOTS, aimed at improving the quality of education and making it inclusive.
Details of the DOTS Project: D – Data Repository: This involves starting with a data census to create a reliable and accurate data bank. This data will assist in planning, resource distribution, and monitoring the progress of education in Nigeria. The census will cover students from kindergarten, primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions, both private and government-owned.
O – Out-of-School Children: Addressing the over 20 million out-of-school children in the country, which is a critical situation. This issue is part of the Tinubu administration’s eight-point agenda focusing on social welfare and education. Prof. Sununu emphasized the importance of returning these children to school to prevent potential exploitation and criminality.
T – Teachers’ Welfare: This includes capacity building and restoring dignity to the teaching profession. It aims to certify the teaching profession with all necessary qualifications and restore its former glory.
S – Skills: Emphasizing the need for skills relevant to today’s needs, focusing on knowledge, moral standards, and practical skills. The minister highlighted the importance of equipping the youth with adequate skills, noting the significant impact Nigerian doctors have on the American healthcare system.
Governor Abdullahi Sule, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Mr. Muhammad Sani Bala, expressed the administration’s commitment to providing quality education for the state’s citizens.
Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, the Registrar/Chief Executive of NECO, noted the pressing need for infrastructure upgrades across NECO’s facilities. He announced that new state offices in Abia, Jigawa, Rivers, Sokoto, and Taraba, along with the new office in Lafia, would enhance the administration of examinations in Nigeria.