Nigeria’s new Education Minister, Olatunji Alausa, addressed the nation’s critical education issues in a recent press briefing, describing the country’s out-of-school children statistics as alarming. He stressed that this challenge threatens Nigeria’s sustainability, underscoring President Tinubu’s commitment to making it a top priority to reduce out-of-school rates.
“We bear the heavy burden of having the highest number of out-of-school children in the world; this is unsustainable for our country,” Alausa stated. To address this, he shared that the ministry has crafted an agenda and work plan focused on initiatives to boost school enrollment. Additionally, he announced plans to create incentives aimed at encouraging higher enrollment rates.
“We’ll collaborate with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and use its budget to implement conditional cash transfers for mothers to send their kids to school,” he said. Alausa emphasized the need for adequate child nutrition to support cognitive development, which he sees as essential to building human capacity. He also outlined plans to set monthly benchmarks and KPIs to track enrollment progress.
Curriculum Revisions
Alausa highlighted the importance of updating the basic education curriculum to meet 21st-century needs, noting that the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) recently developed a new curriculum with a strong focus on civic education. “We’ll prioritize civic education, teaching children from primary through secondary levels about patriotism and its significance in Nigeria,” he said.
Focus on STEMM Education
To align the education system with contemporary demands, Alausa announced a strengthened emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical Sciences (STEMM). Acknowledging the issue of “unemployable graduates,” he emphasized the need to reorient education towards building relevant skills. “We face manpower shortages in healthcare and other areas, and we must prioritize STEMM. We’ll work closely with universities, polytechnics, and technical institutions to advance this agenda,” he stated. Collaboration with these institutions aims to strengthen programs that address workforce shortages, particularly in healthcare.
Vocational and Practical Skills Development
The minister also detailed the government’s commitment to technical vocational education and training, including plans to upgrade technical college infrastructure and partner with the private sector to create job opportunities for graduates. He noted that “80 percent of our education will focus on practical training, with 20 percent dedicated to theoretical learning.”
To further support vocational education, Alausa announced stipends for students in technical training programs and plans to certify trainers to ensure high-quality instruction. He also discussed engaging the private sector to create job pathways for young people.
Expanding Training Programs
Alausa introduced a new training initiative centered on renewable energy and announced that all agricultural universities would soon be required to establish mechanized farming programs. “We’ll provide resources and funding to enable training in practical skills,” he said, reinforcing the ministry’s aim to equip students with skills relevant to Nigeria’s evolving economy.
