NIEPA, PLANE Team Up to Address Out-of-School Children Challenge

18th December, 2024

The National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), in partnership with the Partnership for Learning for All Nigerians (PLANE), has embarked on a capacity assessment of state ministries of education and agencies to address out-of-school children education in South West and South East Nigeria.

Speaking at the opening ceremony in Akure, the Ondo State capital, the Acting Director-General of NIEPA, Dr. David Shofoyeke, represented by the FCIDO-PLANE Desk Officer, Dr. Nojeem Oresajo, emphasized the importance of addressing the challenge of out-of-school children in Nigeria. He noted that Nigeria faces a significant challenge with 20 million out-of-school children, according to UNESCO statistics, threatening the futures of these children and the sustainable development of the nation.

Dr. Shofoyeke highlighted the objective of the gathering, which is to conduct a capacity needs assessment of state ministries of education and agencies to address out-of-school children education in South West and South East Nigeria. He emphasized the importance of effective planning skills and valid data in mitigating the increasing rate of out-of-school children.

The Representative of PLANE, Dr. James Fadokun, briefed the participants on the importance of their assignment in the next two days. He urged their cooperation, noting that the assessment would provide valuable insights into the capacity needs of state ministries of education and agencies. PLANE has been actively supporting education in Nigeria through various initiatives, including capacity building for education planners and managers, development of education sector plans, and provision of technical assistance to state governments.

Dr. Fadokun listed the objectives of the assessment, which include evaluating the capacity of planners in the States Ministries of Education and their SUBEBs to address the challenges of OOSC in the south-west and south-east, identifying gaps and opportunities for strengthening institutional frameworks, policies and practices to ensure equitable access to quality education for out-of-school children, determining the level of engaging stakeholders in a participatory process to develop actionable recommendations for addressing the identified challenges, and generating information to enhance evidence-based planning and implementation of programmes aimed at reducing the number of out-of-school children in the regions.

In a goodwill message, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology in Ondo State, Mr. Olaolu Akindolire, represented by Mr. Obajulaye Oluwadayiro, reiterated the commitment of the Ondo State Government to addressing the issue of out-of-school children. He emphasized the importance of collaboration and partnerships in achieving this goal, citing the need for a multi-stakeholder approach to address the complex challenges surrounding out-of-school children.

As the programme got underway, officials from various government agencies, including the Federal Ministry of Education, the Almajiri Commission of Nigeria, the DAWN Commission, and the South Eastern Commission, were in attendance, underscoring their commitment to tackling the issue of out-of-school children in Nigeria.

According to NIEPA’s Media Officer, Tenabe Bodunde, the capacity assessment programme marks a significant milestone in efforts to address the challenge of out-of-school children in Nigeria. By identifying the capacity needs of state ministries of education and agencies, the programme aims to strengthen their ability to manage OOSC challenges and ensure that all children have access to quality education.