A new kindergarten education enrolment policy may be underway if the Federal Government pursues the new basic education blueprint, Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufai has announced.

Speaking at the third National Conference on Kindergarten Education organized by the Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) in Port Harcourt, Wednesday, Prof. Rufai also said enrolment in kindergarten education has risen from 2.5 million to 25 million currently.

She stated that there was a renewed vigour in transforming the education sector, and that early child education forms a major foundation in driving government’s policy in the sector.

Prof. Rufai asserted, “early child education is a key foundation…it will be given the attention it deserves since it will enhance better performance of the child in future education endeavours.”

In line with this policy, she disclosed that the Federal Government has evolved a four-year strategic plan to pursue the scheme, while promising that measures would be taken to curtail poor teacher quality and out-of-school problems.

Keynote speaker and former World Bank Vice President for Africa, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, harped on the need for the country to invest in early child education.

Dr. Ezekwesili called for a systemic approach to kindergarten education, adding, “history indicates that education has moved to become a social tool with a holistic process,” emphasizing that, “it is a key component of the competitiveness of countries.”

The former World Bank chief, who spoke on the theme: “Legislation and Implementation of Kindergarten Education in Nigeria: Issues and Challenges”, argued that apart from being under funded, the system also lacks adequate attention.

In his remarks, Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi pledged government’s total support to the full implementation of the early child education policy, assuring that an executive bill will soon be sent to the House of Assembly to make it compulsory for all children to get basic education.

The governor praised the vision and commitment of his wife in the pursuit of better education for children, but insisted that fees be introduced to sustain the scheme in the future.

In his welcome address, Chairman, Board of Trustees of ESI and member, House of Representatives, Hon. Dakuku Peterside, said the conference is pertinent as it will provide a new road map to transform early child education.

“Early child education is perhaps, the top most priority, especially with the Rivers State Government”, noting that, if Nigeria is to fulfill its potential, kindergarten education must be given its pride of place.

In her remarks, Founder of ESI, Dame Judith Amaechi, called for effective measures in improving early child education in Nigeria, citing Section 8 of the 1999 Constitution, adding, “every child, irrespective of social background, should not be left without early education”.

Dame Amaechi further called for a separate law to make pre-school age education compulsory, as she called on states and local governments to invest in early child education.

First ladies of six states, including their deputies, pledged support to the vision of ESI at the programme, with speakers drawn from the academia and non-governmental organisations around the world.