FG spends N27bn to mop up out of school children

Gusau – The Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Dikko Suleiman, on Tuesday said the Federal Government had spent N27 billion in mopping up out of school children nationwide.
Suleiman said this in Gusau at the 13th Quarterly Meeting of UBEC management with Executive Chairmen of states Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEB) in Nigeria.
He said of the funds, N8.5 billion was used in equipping 154 Almajiri schools aimed at reducing street begging, especially among school-aged children.
The executive secretary said N12 billion was used in building and equipping 30 schools under girlchild education programme, while N6.4 billion was spent in building 74 schools to eliminate out of schoolboys.
According to him, the annual enrolment in Almajiri schools was now put at 17,000, girl-child education 18,000 and 15,000 in out of schoolboys.
He, however, expressed government’s determination and commitment, especially in the education sector toward improving a better future for the nation.
Suleiman also called on the state governments to continue to access the available UBE grants from the Federal Government.
Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara, who declared the meeting open, promised to continue to improve on quality of teaching in the state.
Yari said that his administration had made significant improvement in the education sector which had in turn increased enrolment. (NAN)