NAN-H-38
Enrollment
By Olayinka Olawale
Lagos, Jan. 25, 2018 (NAN) A Lagos based NGO, Out-of-School Empowerment Foundation says it enrolled about 300 out-of-school children into primary and junior secondary schools in 2017.
Mr Akeem Kilani, Director and Coordinator of the foundation told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the pupils were identified and picked up from streets across the metropolis.
NAN reports that the foundation is a non-profit organisation set up to facilitate enrollment of drop-outs, indigent pupils, the physically-challenge children of school age.
Kilani said the enrolled students were between ages nine and 15.
“Last session, we enrolled 300 children, out of which we registered 150 pupils in primary and 150 students in junior secondary schools.
“Sometimes, we support students in Senior Secondary Schools; we want to see that the number of school drop outs is reduced drastically.
“Some parents, due to economic situation in the country, have lost their role in terms of monitoring, protection and provision of basic amenities for their children.
“We see a lot of parents on the field and they will tell us they want to cater for their children but they cannot, they have lost their role.
“We need to support children from primary to junior secondary schools so they will be able to read and write.
“Our mission and vision is to ensure that we support the government to reduce the number of out-of- school children in our society,’’ he said.
The coordinator also said that the foundation also operated a transit home for children who ran away from home.
Kilani explained that 12 children were presently being catered for in the home.
He said that the NGO also collaborated with parents and guardians to ensure that the children remain in schools by providing some supports which included uniforms, school bags, sandals and feeding.
Kilani said that the foundation also assist unregistered schools to enroll their pupils to write the compulsory placement test for primary six pupils.
“Many unregistered schools approach us on how to enroll their pupils for compulsory placement test because of our relationship with the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
“We have been able to keep a lot of children in school through such intervention.
“When children are engaged during school hours, it will reduce child abuse, rape, sexual harassment and other social vices,’’ he added.
“I appeal to philanthropists to support our programme and help community take care of these children in danger.
“Such support can come through office accommodation, donation of educational material, school uniforms, shoes and bags,’’ the coordinator pleaded. (NAN)
OOG/JIE/MNA/
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Edited by Julius Enehikhuere/Maureen Atuonwu/