$611 million has been approved to support the Nigerian government in quelling the growing statistics of children out of school, which stands at about 10.5 million currently.
Adebayo Solomon the World Bank Education Specialist and Consultant, announced this in Abuja at the 2017/2018 annual school census exercise.
The exercise is planned to include all the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Solomon said this move by World Bank is in association with the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan of the Federal Government.
He added that the funds would be disbursed through the Better Education Service Delivery for All Programme, which is dedicated at finding school’s for children.
He said, “We are working with the National Bureau of Statistics to ensure that some data is verified. Immediately there is verification, each school will collect $30 dollars, and each state government will collect $100,000.”
Malam Adamu Adamu the Minister of Education, who inaugurated the census exercise in Abuja, stated statistics are needed for efficient implementation of an all-inclusive education in the country.
Adamu explained that there would be a simultaneous commencement of activating all the schools, pupils, teachers and facilities in the basic and post-basic school levels in 36 states and the FCT.
The minister pointed out the failure of the enumeration exercise in past years and put it down to some of state governments, agencies of government and private schools not adhering to the policy. He insisted that they show due diligence and prudence to the newly started guidelines in the present year.
He said, “I will also urge for cooperation and full participation of the military, para-military and private schools, both registered and unregistered, almajiri centres, and integrated Koranic schools in this exercise so that we can explore and improve all school environments in order to begin to solve the problem of out-of-school children.”