In Ondo State, 5.9% of children are out-of-school, a concerning issue that the state government and House of Assembly are determined to address. The Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Laolu Akindolire, emphasized the importance of enrolling every child in primary and secondary education to combat this problem.
Following a stakeholders’ meeting with UNICEF to tackle the issue, Akindolire revealed plans to work with the House of Assembly on legislation for zero tolerance towards out-of-school children. The state government is set to renovate schools, recruit more teachers, and create a conducive learning environment.
The Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, affirmed the legislature’s commitment to addressing the out-of-school challenge. The event also highlighted the need for workable models to protect children’s right to quality education, as emphasized by Mr. Muhammad Okorie of UNICEF.
Through collaborative efforts and ongoing initiatives, Ondo State aims to reduce the number of out-of-school children and ensure that every child has access to education.