Ahead of the 2023 International Children’s Day of Broadcasting, the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF has called for adequate funding of primary education to create an increased demand for quality education.
The International Children’s Day of Broadcasting (ICDB, celebrated every 4th of March was instituted by the Children’s charity in 1991 to galvanize support among broadcasters on global issues that affect children.
“It’s a day broadcasters allow children to be part of the programming process, to talk about their hopes, dreams and exchange ideas with their peers on issues affecting them, a statement by UNICEF says.
The Theme for the 2023 commemoration, ‘More money for primary education’, is a direct reflection of the need for more investment in education following the recorded deficits caused by the out-of-school children syndrome in the country.
Although primary education in Nigeria is officially free and compulsory, about 18 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 do not attend any formal classes and have never been to school.
“Only 61 percent of 6 -year-olds regularly attend primary school” says UNICEF”.
The body is now calling for more funding in the basic education sector to get more children out of the streets and into the classrooms.
It said qualitative education remains the bedrock of enhanced knowledge, improved behaviour and personal growth of children.