As the world commemorates the fourth International Day of Education, a leading humanitarian organization, Save the Children International (SCI), has called on the government to increase education funding and investment to ensure inclusive, equitable quality education that promotes lifelong learning opportunities for all, to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This is according to a statement signed by the Country Director of SCI, Mercy Gichuhi and made a available to newsmen in Kaduna.
Gichuhi in the statement said, Education is no doubt at the heart of the Global Goals for Sustainable Development, noting that, It is a singular act that is needed to reduce inequalities (Goal 10), reverse cycles of intergenerational poverty (Goal 1), and improve health (Goal 3) as well as the vehicle to achieve gender equality and eliminate child marriage (Goal 5).
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She stressed that It is high time the government and all stakeholders prioritize education as a public good; support it with cooperation, partnerships, and funding; and recognize that leaving no one behind starts with education.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated a pre-existing education crisis while reliance on digital technology for learning has deepened exclusion and gender inequalities. There are more children out-of-school now in northeast Nigeria than before the insurgency.
“In some other parts of Nigeria, schools do not have the technical capacity to support physically challenged, marginalized, or minority children. Funding remains a challenge to the education system across the board.
“it requires the Nigerian government’s fulfillment of the commitment by the President, Mohammadu Buhari made at the Global Education Summit (GPE) (2021) to increase education funding to 14% by 2022, 16.7% in 2023, 20% by 2024, and 22.5% by 2025.
“Children constitute a great number of the world population and they are the future of the society. The worst option is to see a generation of children and young people who lack the skills they need to compete in the 21st-century economy or leave behind half of humanity. The prize of non-providing the necessary skills to the leaders of tomorrow is a catastrophe.
“Save the Children recommends the incorporation of technology in education that is inclusive, prioritizes the girl child to ensure no one is left behind in the race to agenda 2030. We ask that teachers be recognized and be provided with professional support so that they can bring innovation to learnings’, she said.
Similarly, Chairman, National Association of Private Schools proprietor, Kaduna state, Jafar Yusuf, called for more Investments in education sector in Kaduna state.
He said Education is the bedrock of development of any society and any nation that fails to pay attention to educating and investing in its citizens will pay dearly for it.
“I am also using this opportunity to call on the government to invest in education and create jobs for our youths, this will ensure that the brilliant minds stay in the country and contribute to its growth”.
