Joel Sunday, director of Administration, Kogi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), has said that out of 61 million primary school children, 6.1 million of them are out of school across the country.
He quoted the data from a research carried out by OANDO Foundation while addressing pupils at the formal opening of the summer school programmes organised by Send A Child to School Organisation in conjunction with Treasures Bakery and Confectionary at Lokoja Primary School, Lokoja.
Sunday blamed the high rate of children who are out of school in Nigeria on low income of parents resulting in their inability to pay school fees, adding that many parents equally cannot afford money for school uniforms and textbooks, particularly in the face of the recession that ravaged the country in the last two years.
He lamented that the outcome of the whole issue points to high rate of rape among girls who he said hawk while they are supposed to be in school. “It is sad that in a country where there is so much money, and to the point that some people hide theirs in soak away, there is high rate of out-of-school children.
He challenged organisations and wealthy individuals to emulate the organisers of the programme , while he commended the organisers for registering pupils from public schools and less-privileged, adding that it would go a long way in moulding their future.
Sunday also encouraged the pupils to study hard, become good leaders of tomorrow and reciprocate the good gesture to other children in the future.
Kikelomo Kandy, director of Send a Child to School, in her address disclosed that the holiday coaching was primarily for pupils going to Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1), adding that the aim was to prepare the pupils properly for the next school calendar year.
“The coaching lesson started with 12 pupils but now has 52 registered students. Two more centres would be added next year to enable them accommodate more pupils. I am impressed by the performance of the pupils who are all from the public schools. Public schools are still vibrant,” she said.
Earlier, Femi Akande, managing director, Treasures Bakery and Confectionary, was overwhelmed by the success of the programme , saying the coaching lesson is a life-changing experience for the children.
Victoria Nnakiaike, Lokoja
