The Executive Director, Standard Life Organisation, a microfinance institution, Mr Osazee Oyegue, on Friday, called on the government to collaborate with private institutions to take children off the streets.
He made the call during the launch of its organisation products tagged ‘Educational Loan’ at the head office in Benin, Edo State.
Oyegue, who was represented by the Head of Audit, Mrs Elizabeth Osariemen, said the loan scheme would enable parents to afford school fees while school owners can also benefit from it to better their schools and enable them to acquire much facilities and equipment to aid effective learning.
He said, “I will use this opportunity to call on the government to collaborate with private Institutions to take children off the streets. The educational loan product initiative is designed for parents to send their children back to school and training institutions to be able to meet their financial needs.
“We are not only looking at taking back children to school but also to help improve the schools for conducive learning.”
He said the loan products were divided into the School Fees Loan which caters for parents, while the School Improvement Loan was meant to satisfy private school owners and other players in the education value chain.
He said over 66 schools had benefited from the scheme in Edo and Delta states during the pilot stage that lasted for six months.