The Federal Government on Monday announced 6-Point reform initiative as critical areas of prioritization in its current efforts to transform the nation’s education sector.
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.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who unveiled the six-point initiative in Abuja during his meeting with the 36 State and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioners of Education, maintained that the review of the roadmap of his predecessor was not a policy summersault but rather a step taken based on the emerging issues in the education sector.
According to him, the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The minister 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”, Alausa added.
While clarifying that the meeting with the 36 State and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioners of Education, along with Secretaries of Education, is to address the growing challenges in the education sector, the minister disclosed that discussions at 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.
He elaborated: “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”, the minister added.
While underscoring the importance of reforms in the education, Alausa 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.
He pointed out that today the mandate of the education sector stakeholders remained clear, saying that they must collectively address the pressing challenges facing education in Nigeria while advancing reforms that promote inclusivity, equity, and excellence.
The minister 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, stressing the government’s commitment to investing in technical and vocational education to enhance the skills of Nigerian graduates.
Specifically, he explained the 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.
Alausa assured that the government would 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, maintained that the Ministry remained focused on reducing the number of out-of-school children
She said: “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”, Ahmad added.
