House of Reps could amend NYSC act to train teachers to coach Out-of-school-children

The Special plenary session concerning the high number of out of school children in Nigeria held today in Abuja.

The session was presided over by the Speaker of Nigeria's House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila.

Gbajabiamila opened the session with an opening remark explaining why they decided to organise a special day to address the matter.

”We have come here today to consider the matter of the millions of children in our country who are out of school, and who as a result are denied their fundamental right to receive the training and skills acquisition opportunities that will allow them to have better lives," the Speakers said

This was after lamenting that the investment into educational reforms has failed to yield desired outcomes.

”These reforms have been intended mostly to address the availability gap by building new schools and providing teachers in previously underserved areas.
These investments have not yielded the desired outcomes.” — @SpeakerGbaja #NoChildLeftBehind #HORSpecialSession pic.twitter.com/ACTwuAUass

— House of Reps NGR (@HouseNGR) March 12, 2020

Moving into the session, he called upon Former Member Ekiti State House of Assembly and the current lawmaker representing the Federal Constituency for Ijero Ekiti West to move the motion on behalf of the speaker titled "Motion of urgent public importance on the need for the house to deliberate on the matter of the millions out of school children in Nigeria and to consider lasting solutions."

It was seconded by Honorable Dede from Kano.

The deliberations had four outcomes- however, a catchy aspect of one of the outcomes was amending the NYSC act to establish a program to train willing and capable Nigerians to serve as teachers in underserved areas.

The lawmakers still in session promised to deliberate on the matter the whole day as they gave each lawmaker 2 minutes to speak with delegates with the guests across the nation watching them.

After the deliberation, the Home Committee will have four weeks to come up with the necessary findings for the house to pass a bill.