The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, says the Bola Tinubu administration has returned over one million out-of-school children to classrooms in the last 24 months.
He also stated that the Federal Government will not reverse the controversial land swap deal involving an investor at the Federal Government College, Kano.
Dr. Alausa made this known on Tuesday during an inspection tour of Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment, AGILE, projects in Kano State public schools, and the commissioning of a new digital library at the Federal Government College, FGC, Kano.
Speaking to journalists after the tour, the Minister expressed concern over the persistent challenge of out-of-school children in Northern Nigeria. He said the Federal Government is tackling the issue through targeted interventions, including the establishment of bilingual schools designed to take vulnerable children off the streets and reintegrate them into the formal education system.
“Over the last 24 months, we have successfully moved over one million out-of-school children back into classrooms,” Dr. Alausa said. “But our job does not stop at enrolment. Our goal now is to improve retention and ensure that these children not only stay in school, but also complete their education and acquire skills that will make them productive citizens.”
During the inspection, the Minister visited one of the bilingual schools under construction. He noted that the project was about 90 per cent completed, with the contractor assuring that it would be delivered on or before August 31, 2026.
He added that arrangements were in advanced stages for a second bilingual school to commence operations in the current academic session. According to him, a fourth bilingual school is also projected for completion and full operation by June 2027.
Dr. Alausa reiterated the Tinubu administration’s commitment to expanding access to quality education, particularly for girls and children in underserved communities across the country.
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According to the Minister, the Kano State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, is expected to begin the recruitment of teachers and other preparatory work to ensure the school becomes operational by the start of the 2026/2027 academic session.
Dr. Alausa also inspected an Islamic Junior Secondary School, IJR, project in Langan, where about 12 new classrooms, perimeter fencing, and a security post were under construction.
He said the completion of the project would enable the junior secondary school to relocate to the new facility, while the existing structure would be repurposed to accommodate the primary school.
Dr. Alausa said the Federal Government would also support the furnishing of the primary school and introduce other initiatives to improve education quality. Addressing concerns over the 15 hectares of land concessioned to an investor at FGC Kano under a Public-Private Partnership, the Minister said the land swap was designed to boost physical infrastructure in the school.
He argued that it made no sense to keep large portions of land idle for decades when a transparent partnership could generate resources for the benefit of students. He added that the decision was based on direct assessment by officials, not on reports from Abuja, and that government would not allow sentiment to block reforms aimed at improving education.
The Minister assured stakeholders, including alumni, that the government’s actions were in the best interest of students.
Dr. Alausa was accompanied by the Minister of State for Education, officials of UBEC, NERDC, the Federal Ministry of Education, and the Kano State Commissioner for Education.
