By Felix Khanoba
The Federal Government says it has secured the release of N220billion as a credit facility from World Bank to tackle the problem of out-of-school children in 17 states in the country.
Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, who made this known at the launch of Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) programme in Yola at the weekend, said the fund would go a long way to fight the scourge of poor enrolment in schools as well as strengthen basic education delivery.
A statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Saturday by Mr Bem Goong, a deputy director and head of public relations unit in federal ministry of education, said Nwajiuba posited that the cardinal objective of the programme is to increase equitable access for out-of-school children, improve literacy and strengthen accountability at the basic education level.
He listed the states that are beneficiary of the fund as Kano, Kaduna ,Katsina, Kebbi, Zamfara, Jigawa, Sokoto and Adamawa states.
Others are Yobe, Borno, Taraba, Bauchi, Gombe, Oyo, Ebonyi, Rivers and one other state.
The minister explained that the selection of the states is based on the prevalence of the scourge of out-of-school children, adding that BESDA was earlier activated in 2018.
Nwajiuba said all key activities at the federal level to kick start implementation of the programme by the focus states have been completed.
While saying that each beneficiary state is expected to commence implementation in line with specific steps and guidelines provided under the programme, the minister revealed that Adamawa State has successfully commenced the process.
On his part, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State applauded the efforts of the Federal Government in bringing the BESDA to the state, adding that he has directed the implementation of the programme two months after assumption of office to show the administration’s enthusiasm on the scheme.
