Over 20 million out of school children have been recorded in Nigeria, and are said to be roaming the streets in a nation where the right to citizens’ education is guaranteed by the constitution. This was disclosed by Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, while delivering the keynote address, during the Founder’s Day celebration of St. Augustine College of Education (S.A.C.O.E.D), Akoka, Lagos, held recently in the school premises. Falana said section 18 of the constitution, provides that there shall be free compulsory universal primary education, as well as free secondary, university education and free adult literacy programme.
The civil rights activist said the right to free education for citizens was granted since 1979, but members of the ruling class put a clause and conditionality which determines the right to be granted as at when practicable, adding that the cost of education in the country is becoming higher and higher. He however said that through the struggle of the human rights community and Nigerians, the government has guaranteed through the Child Right Education free and compulsory basic education from primary to junior secondary school. According to him, “All the 36 state governments have adopted the law, but none of them is enforcing the provision of the law.

Under the compulsory free Education Basic Act of 2004, every state government is required to make contribution to pay counterpart fund to the Universal Basic Education Fund, because the federal government is requiring them to contribute two percent of its consolidated revenue funds, and the state government shall pay a counterpart fund of 50 percent in order to access the fund. “No state government in Nigeria today pays up till date because we are talking about the children of the poor.” Speaking on the occasion, Very Rev. Fr. (Dr.) Vincent Olofinkua, the Acting Provost decried the alarming figure of out of school children, adding that a good number of those in school learn in unconducive environments, even where they have qualified teachers but lack other incentives that can boost teaching.
Urging the government to do things right, the priest said if the country does not have well trained people in different areas of specialisation, there cannot be innovations, nor growth and development. On ambassadors, who will be the face of the College to the world, Fr. Olofinkua said, “They will be saddled with the responsibilities of projecting activities, sponsoring some students, and working closely with the management for the good of the college. “Their installation is particularly relevant and significant with the prevailing economic situation of the country. As we all know, it is very challenging to afford education in the present-day Nigeria. It has therefore, become necessary for the College to ease the pain and struggle of parents paying the school fees of their children. “
It is on this note that the College, in collaboration with our sponsors, is offering a scholarship scheme that will help to reduce the pain of parents. This scholarship is open to candidates who took the 2024 University Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and scored 200 and above for Degree, and 100 and above for NCE Programmes, respectively. The Knights of St. John International will be sponsoring over 90 students for the next four years in the institution established in 1971.