Most school children deficient in learning outcome – Minister

Millions of school children are not attaining the required learning outcome benchmarks, Minister of Education Adamu Adamu has said.

The minister made the remarks during a media conference on the International Literacy Day (ILD), yesterday in Abuja.

He said a large number of children in schools failed to demonstrate suitable skills, knowledge and values upon completion of studies.

He said illiteracy remains a big social and cultural problem and can hinder the economic development of any society especially if large number of citizens can neither read nor write.

He said, “Different official estimates put youth and adult literacy levels in Nigeria at about 63 million. It is also estimated that over 11.5 million children are out of school. A large share of children who are in school are not attaining learning outcome benchmarks. Addressing this skill gap is an educational and development imperative.”

He said youth and adults must benefit from educational opportunities designed to meet their needs adding that measures and concerted actions were being developed to revitalize the non-formal education sector.

Executive Secretary, National Commission for Mass Literacy, Professor Abba Abubakar Haladu, called on state and local governments to ‘deploy the needed political will’ and provide necessary material support for the eradication of illiteracy.

He said the theme for this year’s ILD was “Literacy in a Digital World.”

UNESCO Director General, Irina Bokova said digital tools can help expand access to learning and improve its quality.