In its bid to drive socio-economic development and address low literacy rate, the Ogun State Government through its Revitalising Adult and Youth Literacy initiative has put in place measures to reposition the non-formal sector in the state to reduce poverty.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Modupe Mujota, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Alhaji Sefiu Rasheed, said this at the Training Workshop organised for adult education facilitators at the Abeokuta Grammar School, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta.
The Commissioner described education as a social tool in effecting necessary positive change in the society. She said that the state was focusing on complete overhauling of educational policies, structures, system and processes so as to properly place the non-formal education sub-sector.
Mujota explained that part of the efforts of the state government at addressing low literacy rate was to place emphasis on establishment of more adult literacy centres as well as resuscitation of moribund women education centres across the state to educate the populace.
She said the ministry’s targeted audience included girls, women, youths and children that were out of school both in the urban and rural areas, adding that all stakeholders should cooperate fully with the government for the successful implementation of the laudable programmes aimed at stepping up literacy level among the populace.
The current syndrome of early drop-out in the formal schooling could be reduced drastically in our society when all the relevant stakeholders join hands with the government to train parents, adults and youths to become literate.
This would to a large extent have multiplying effect not only in motivating the children to attend formal schools, but to influence their active participation in matters affecting their lives and society in general’’, the commissioner said.
She charged participants to make the best use of the opportunity to equip and enrich themselves for better performance in their various locations.
Earlier in is welcome address, the Director, Ogun State Agency for Mass Education, Mr. Olanloye Abdul Waheed, said that the training workshop would provide opportunity to showcase the commitment of the present administration to the development of adult and non-formal education in the state.
Abdul Waheed disclosed that 453 adult learners in vocational and literacy classes graduated in March 2016, while more women skills acquisition centres were resuscitated in all the local government areas of the state with the establishment of more literacy centres.
