The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling the country’s out-of-school children problem.

Prof. Ismail Junaidu, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Educational Research Development Council (NERDC), who addressed newsmen in Abuja, stressed that the scourge must be addressed promptly.

Junaidu stated that the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Education, has begun a plan that, if strengthened and implemented, would go a long way towards fixing the issues.

“Lately this government is very serious on getting the out-of-school children back to school.

“A roadmap has been developed and when you look at the roadmap, there is heavy concentration on the need to have out-of-school children reduced,” he said.

Mrs Ruth Agboola, President of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools in the FCT (NAPPS), urged the Federal Government to focus on schools in rural areas to minimise the number of out-of-school children.

Agboola urged the government to strictly execute educational measures aimed at eliminating the country’s out-of-school children problem.

She also requested assistance with educational learning materials, laboratory equipment, and other educational-related services.

“We all know that government has been trying but I feel they should try more, providing free education is not enough as to enforcing it.”