The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has introduced new initiatives to transform the education sector, THE NATION reported.
Speaking at the symbolic groundbreaking ceremony for National Examination Council (NECO) state offices, the minister revealed that President Tinubu has approved a new project within the Federal Ministry of Education called ‘DOTS.’
The groundbreaking ceremony, held yesterday in Lafia, marks the commencement of NECO state offices in Nasarawa, Abia, Sokoto, Taraba, Jigawa, Lagos, and Rivers, representing the six geopolitical zones.
Prof. Mamman, represented by the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, emphasized the president’s commitment to education as a priority in his eight-point agenda.
"President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given approval to the federal ministry of education to have a project called DOTS," Sununu stated.
DOTS Explained:
D - Data Repository: Recognizing issues with data validity in Nigeria, the ministry plans to conduct a comprehensive census to gather reliable, accurate data. This will aid in planning, resource allocation, and monitoring the education process.
O - Out-of-School Children: With over 20 million out-of-school children, this issue represents a critical challenge. Projects aimed at reducing this number will be rolled out soon, ensuring every child has access to education.
T - Teachers: The initiative focuses on teacher welfare, capacity building, and the employment of qualified teachers. Teachers must possess NCE or a degree with a postgraduate degree in education and be members of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria.
S - Skills: Emphasizing the relevance of modern skills, the project aims to train students and teachers in technology to enable self-sustenance.
Sununu highlighted the president’s dedication to ensuring every child’s access to quality education, irrespective of background.
"Mr. President is committed to ensuring that every child has access to education," he affirmed.
This commitment is further evidenced by the signing of the students’ loan amendment to remove barriers to admission.
Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, Registrar and Chief Executive of NECO, spoke on the significance of building NECO offices across the six geopolitical zones.
He stated that this development would not only boost staff morale and productivity but also enhance NECO's image nationally and internationally.
“These state offices will renew and invigorate our commitment to quality, fairness, integrity, and transparency in conducting examinations,” Wushishi said.
He emphasized NECO’s vision of leveraging technology and innovation to improve service quality and accessibility, positioning NECO as a catalyst for educational transformation in Nigeria.