The National Association of Seadogs has raised concern over the increasing numbers of primary and secondary school drop-outs as a result of alleged cases of corruption in the education sector.
NAS, in a statement made available Thursday by its National President, Mr. Ide Owodiong-Idemeko, drew the attention of the world to how increased cases of corruption in the education sector has robbed the Universal Basic Education of the needed steam in driving street children into the classrooms.
The campaign to draw the attention of Nigerians to the development is coming ahead of 8th Ralph Opara Memorial Lecture which comes up in the first week of November.
The group said there was the need to return these children to the classroom.
With over 10.5 million children out of school, NAS added, Nigeria tops the world index of nations with the highest number of out-of-school children.
“NAS is collaborating with and the global ‘A World at School Initiative’ based in London and New York that recently petitioned President Goodluck Jonathan, state governors and ministers over this alarming trend.”
The group noted that as part of the commitment toward removing the Nigerian child from the streets, it had earlier in the year organised a charity red ball in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, in which funds were raised in support of the education of the street child.
