The Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture has called for increased funding of primary education to boost enrollment and demand for high-quality education ahead of the 2023 International Children’s Day of Broadcasting.
The Children’s charity established the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting (ICDB), which would be celebrated on Sunday, March 5, and was launched by UNICEF in 1991 to mobilise support among broadcasters worldwide to create awareness on children’s issues.
In a statement signed by Ms. Mercy Megwa, Director/Head Advocacy, CRlB for Mallam Adamu Adamu, Minister of Education, the Federal Government called on broadcasters to prioritise children’s programme as part of the activities to mark the day.
The statement read, “It’s a day broadcasters allow children to be part of the programming process, to talk about their hopes, and dreams and exchange ideas with their peers on issues affecting them.
“We, therefore, enjoin broadcasters to open airwaves to the children for this year’s celebration and throughout the year and also to produce documentaries that highlight the plight of children in Nigeria.”
The Theme for the 2023 commemoration, “More money for primary education”, is a direct reflection of the need for more investment in education following the recorded deficits caused by the out-of-school children syndrome in the country.
Although primary education in Nigeria is officially free and compulsory, about 18 million children between the ages of five and 14 do not attend any formal classes and have never been to school.
UNICEF reports, “Only 61 percent of six-year-olds regularly attend primary school.”
The agency has therefore urged for more funding in the basic education sector to get more children out of the streets and into the classrooms as well as create an enabling environment and boost demand for qualitative education.
The foundation for enhancing children’s knowledge, improving their behaviour and personal development remains high-quality education, the agency further noted.
It said, “Adequate funding of primary education will create an enabling environment for increased demand for qualitative education which is the bedrock of enhanced knowledge, improved behaviour, and personal growth of the children.”