The minister of education, Prof Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa'i recently met with state commissioners of education so as to discuss on how to move the education sector forward.

She said that without the cooperation of the state, the federal government alone cannot move the education sector forward. The state must give full cooperation to the federal government's effort in raising the number of enrolment in schools.

Statistics shows that there are 51 million out of school children in the world and Nigeria ranked first with over 10.5 million out of school children followed by Pakistan which has recorded 5 million.

She revealed that the federal government has been providing facilities through the provision of infrastructures and through the support of the World Bank and other stakeholders like KOICA, UNICEF, etc.

She said already, UBEC has been involved in the building of schools, provision of facilities like toilet, water, and library, most of which will be ready by the end of year.

'These buildings are provided for at every state. The challenge from the state is how to get these out of school children to attend the schools. There are schools that are ready and in session but the facilities are still under used as the states are yet to ensure that the children roaming about are brought in.

She advised the states to wake up to their responsibilities and emphasised that technical and vocational education is a must in all the institutions in order to empower and make the graduates relevant to the society.