UYO—Executive Secretary, National
Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult
and Non-Formal Education, Alhaji Jibrin
Paiko, has called for a national
assessment of literacy practices, if
Nigeria is to present a realistic account
of its Universal Basic Education
achievements by 2015.
Paiko, who spoke at a workshop
organised by Niger Delta Development
Commission, NDDC, on revamping adult
literacy for sustainable development in
the Niger Delta region, noted that 10.1
million children were out of school in
2012, according to United Nations
Children Fund, UNICEF, report.
He said: “This situation requires the
commitment of everybody if we must
come out of the woods. While there is
need for everyone to join hands with
the leadership to search for solution to
these myriads of problems, the role of
adult literacy must, therefore, be given
adequate attention.”

Aside lack of access, infrastructures,
teaching and learning materials, he said
the greatest challenge facing education
was inadequate funding by the three
tiers of government.
“Adult and non-formal education at all
levels of government seems to suffer
seriously from under funding. There is
real need, therefore, to consult widely
and come up with a reliable and
workable funding mechanism if Nigeria
hopes to attain EFA and Millennium
Development Goals, MDGs, within the
set targets.
“States and local government areas
need to take greater responsibility and
treat adult education with the
seriousness it deserves. The lack of
consistent and adequate funding,
vision, strategy, and coordination has
made literacy programmes to fall
through the cracks,” he added.
He noted that there was also need for
the recruitment and training of
competent adult education personnel,
who would carry out programmes on
adult education in the country.

source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/12/10-1m-children-dropped-out-of-school-in-2012/