10.2m out of school children worry Niger Delta youths

From Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

Niger Delta Youths Association ( NDYA) has said that Nigeria has 10.2million out of school children.
The group in a statement issued on Wednesday in Asaba, and signed by its National President, Victor James, urged governments at all levels to make funds available to private schools as measures to reducing the number of out of school children.
The statement, however, called on federal and state governments to put structures in place to tackle the menace that had over the years smeared the image of Nigeria.
“As loyal citizens in the country’s education sector, we share the government concern over the rising population of out of school children in the country.
The private schools should not be treated by the government as mere profit making establishments and should not be taxed and levied like other commercial ventures.
This problem has made private schools exorbitant and inaccessible to a majority of school aged children and we therefore called on President Muhammadu Buhari to make grants in aid available to private schools on the basis of enrolment figures as obtained in the First Republic before the take over of schools in all states in 1970”. The statement said.
NDYA therefore called on parents to protect their children from unregulated media content and negative peer groups influence.
“We call for stronger collaboration between parents and schools in order to develop and prepare the children adequately for challenges, of citizenship and leadership awaiting them,” the statement added.