Former Chief of Staff to a former Imo State governor, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu, has praised the Federal Government’s proposed education reforms, describing the planned introduction of a continuous 12 year basic education model as a bold move that could improve access to learning and help tackle the problem of school dropouts.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Nwosu said the proposal by the Federal Ministry of Education came at the right time, especially as many children across the country still struggle to complete their secondary education.
He noted that a seamless 12 year learning structure would remove some of the barriers students often face when moving from Junior Secondary School to Senior Secondary School, while also helping to strengthen Nigeria’s human capital development.
According to him, the reform stands out as one of the most important steps taken in the education sector in recent times because it is aimed at making the journey from basic to senior secondary education smoother and more inclusive.
Nwosu said the policy would be especially beneficial to children in rural communities and those from low income families, many of whom are often forced out of school during the transition from junior to senior secondary level.
He also commended the Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, for pushing reforms targeted at improving access, quality and continuity within the country’s education system.
The former Imo governorship candidate urged state governments, education stakeholders and parents to support the implementation of the proposed policy, stressing that education remains one of the strongest tools for national development.
He expressed confidence that if properly implemented, the reform could significantly reduce the number of out of school children and better prepare young Nigerians with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in the future.
Nwosu also welcomed the Federal Government’s approval of reforms to the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, saying the move could help reposition the scheme to become more skills based and productivity driven.
He said the proposed changes would give graduates more practical knowledge, encourage entrepreneurship and improve their overall contribution to national development.
While backing the initiative, Nwosu advised the Federal Government not to remove the military orientation aspect of the NYSC scheme, saying it still plays an important role in building discipline, patriotism and a sense of national unity among corps members.
He further urged the government to protect the integrity of the scheme by ensuring that its activities remain focused on its core mandate of promoting national cohesion and youth development.
