Dar es Salaam, March 21 -- WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education, fulfilling a campaign pledge and a long-cherished goal of some conservatives.

Accusing the agency of “breath-taking failures”, the Republican president vowed to return the money it controls to individual states.

“Were going to shut it down as quickly as possible,” Trump said, although the White House acknowledged that closing the agency outright would require an act of Congress.

The move is already facing legal challenges from those seeking to block the agencys closure as well as sweeping cuts to its staff announced last week.

Most US children attend public schools, which...