The Forum of States Commissioners for Education in Nigeria has decried the high rate of out-of-school pupils in the north-east, due to activities of the Boko Haram sect.
The forum, in its Communiqué issued at the end of a one day meeting in Calabar, expressed the need for the Federal Government to use everything in its power to protect education in all parts of the country.
The commissioners expressed deep concern over the fate of education in the North-East geo-political zone in particular and called on stakeholders to rise up to the challenges. The communiqué, signed by chairman of the forum, Prof. Offiong Offiong, commissioner for education in Cross River said the zone currently has the highest number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
It further condemned the gruesome murder of students and teachers of the Federal Government College, Buni-Yadi in Yobe by the terrorist group. The communiqué reads in part:
“The forum assessed the state of education across the country and expressed deep concern at the fate of education in the north-east geo-political zone.
“It particularly condemned in totality the gruesome murder of several pupils and teachers of the Federal Government College, Buni- Yadi, Yobe by the suspected Boko Haram terrorist group.“It urged all stakeholders in Nigeria to rise and protect education in the country, particularly in the north-east in the face of Boko Haram insurgency.’’
The communiqué feared that the situation might escalate in the zone if necessary steps were not taken urgently. It also appealed to all stakeholders to work towards resolving the current face-off between the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic, College of Education Academic Staff Union and the Federal Government.
