BESDA is funded by a $611 million aid from the World Bank with the aim of increasing equitable access for out-of-school children, improving literacy at the basic education level.
Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, disclosed this in Abuja, yesterday, during the BESDA technical meeting between the ministry and 17 focus states. The event also coincided with flag off of the National Senior Secondary Education Commission . Adamu said the states involved include the entire 13 states of the North West and North East geo-political zones, Niger, Oyo, Ebonyi and Rivers. They were selected based on prevalence of out-of-school children.
He said: “While we are making efforts to reduce the numbers, more and more children are joining the queue. There is, therefore, the need to intensify our efforts towards addressing the challenges of out-of school children by ensuring that they are in school and learning.” “It is in view of this that we are gathered today to brainstorm and come up with new strategies that would ensure effective implementation as well as monitoring and evaluation of the BESDA programme.”