Commonwealth day: FG demands equal opportunities for vulnerable persons

Federal Government on Monday, at the commemoration of Commonwealth day celebrations in Abuja, said it was determined to eliminate barriers withholding vulnerable persons by providing equal opportunities with key policies that would ensure they attain equal status like any other person.

To achieve this, Adamu Adamu, minister of education, said the Federal Government would be riding on the provision of necessary laws and policies in the education sector in availing more opportunities for such persons.

He said: “We are committed to pursing and achieving the six important goals of Education for All. The Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act 2004 emphasises and stipulates compulsory education for all Nigerian children of school age, irrespective of their differences and diverse needs, and we would keep pushing for opportunities for deprived persons.

“We would be implementing and achieving the 16 sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) especially and its 10 strategic targets, which have direct bearing on the education of the child and the vulnerable, including persons with special needs.”

It would be noted that the National Policy on Education guarantees education for all without any form of discrimination; in this regard, the minister assured that the government had already put in place a number of strategies, which include: The launching of a national campaign on access and the need to boost enrolment; institutionalisation of early childhood care development education, promoting girl-child education and improving adult and youth literacy enrolment by 50 percent.

“Promoting technical and vocational programme, integrating albinism education into the school system, establishment of a centre for children with special needs, expanding access to higher education, and encouraging private sector participation in the provision of higher education,” he said.

Speaking further on the topic of the celebration, which is: “An inclusive Commonwealth,” Anthony Anwuka, minister of state for education, said the ministry would be concentrating in offering opportunities for deprived children to attain and live their dream in the society without barriers.