An education foundation in the country has figured out that multiple school levies imposed by schools is responsible for increasing the number of out-of-school children in the country. This was made known by the concern stakeholders during a ground-breaking summit titled ““Street to School: Panacea to a Menace”, on Nigeria’s out-of-school children crises hosted in Lagos state that ended today by a UK-based charity foundation, IA Foundation.
Speaking during the occasion, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of IA-Foundation, Ibironke Adeagbo, revealed that multiple levies being charged by schools were for placing heavy burdens on many parents and care givers, forcing them to resort to the option of withdrawing their children and wards from schools.
She therefore, called on governments at all levels to take immediate steps to end multiple levies in schools.
Adeagbo noted that “It has become imperative to apply practical, proactive and pragmatic approaches for Nigeria to change the narrative in the out-of-school crisis”.
She lamented that having 20million out-of-school children in Nigeria was unacceptable and spells danger for the future of the country.
She revealed that “In global comparison, one out of every five out-of-school children is in Nigeria.
She quoted an international report saying that “UNESCO says that Nigeria has 20.2 million children out of school, which give or take is 10 per cent of our population.
“If this does not keep you awake at night, I wonder what does.
“This menace should be a burning issue and should no longer be business as usual.
Though, she expressed optimism that, “Together, we shall strive to make a difference that will help change the current trajectory”.
A panellist at the event, Mojisola Hunponu-Wusu, said it is everyone’s responsibility to reduce the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
According to Hunponu-wusu, “Members of the family should realise that there must be a contribution to that and reallocation of what they consider a priority for children both male and female to be educated to optimal levels”.
Making his contribution, a traditional ruler, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, applauded IA-Foundation for raising the bar by taking young Nigerian children back to school.
In his statement, “I commend your vision for ensuring a better future for our country through the activities of IA-Foundation.
“I commend you for tenaciously doing what many of us ought to be doing as social entrepreneurs and as people who can pivot into the future using the past as a model,” he said (NAN)
