Dr Tunji Alausa
The Federal Government of Nigeria has reiterated its dedication to strengthening non-formal education as a vital strategy for job creation, youth empowerment, and economic inclusion.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, outlined these national priorities during a high-level plenary session at the ongoing Education World Forum in London.
The specialised panel, which focused on the “role of non-formal education and soft skills in improving wellbeing, employability, and industry participation in education systems,” was moderated by Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh.
A detailed statement on the minister’s presentation was released to the press on Wednesday in Abuja by Mr. Ikharo Attah, the Special Adviser to the Minister on Media and Communications.
Strategic Interventions for Out-of-School Children
During the session, Dr. Alausa highlighted the deliberate efforts of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to scale up vocational training and digital literacy. These interventions aim to systematically reduce the population of out-of-school children while equipping the youth with highly marketable skills.
To bridge literacy gaps and integrate marginalized groups into the mainstream economy, the government has designed flexible learning pathways that combine basic literacy, technical training, and entrepreneurship development.
Key initiatives highlighted by the Minister include:
Accelerated Basic Education Programme (ABEP): A tailored curriculum designed specifically for out-of-school children. It condenses foundational learning into a shorter timeframe, enabling a swift and smooth transition into productive livelihoods.
TVET Initiatives: The intensification of Technical and Vocational Education and Training programs, which offer tuition-free vocational classes, student stipends, and start-up support to foster self-reliance and entrepreneurship.
National Policy on Skills Development: A framework promoting flexible, hands-on training and digital literacy for adults and youths outside the traditional schooling system.
Almajiri Integration: National literacy and adult education initiatives specifically designed to integrate the Almajiri system with basic education and vocational skills to enhance social inclusion.
“What we are doing in Nigeria is because we have a lot of out-of-school children, we have to find a way that we can quickly get them a kind of non-formal education,” Alausa explained. “We’ve created a separate curriculum for them called the accelerated basic education programme which ties them to what they should be learning in school.”
Expanding Digital and Global Partnerships
The minister added that the administration is rapidly expanding digital technology training to ensure young Nigerians are armed with future-ready skills.
The high-level session also featured insights from other global education leaders, including Ontario’s Minister of Education, Paul Calandra; the Secretary of State for Education of Rio Grande de Sul (Brazil), Raquel Teixeira; and Andrea Chakma, the International Youth Representative of the Duke of Edinburgh International Award Foundation.
