Reduce Number of Out-of-School Children, UNICEF tells FG
The United Nations Children’s Fund has charged the Nigerian government to address barriers responsible for the increasing number of out-of-school children in the country.
UNICEF Country Representative to Nigeria, Mr Peter Hawkins, said this when he featured on the News Agency of Nigeria Forum, a special interview programme, in Abuja.
Hawkins identified poverty, proximity to school, and inadequate water, sanitation, and Hygiene facilities, among others, as factors hindering retention in school and the completion of education in the country.
According to him, one of the biggest problems is the reduction of the number of schools from basic to post-basic level, especially for girls.
“So, we need to find how to reduce those barriers, and making the school closer to the villages is an obvious way.
“The third is that many rural communities don’t have the means to sustain their children,” he said.
The UNICEF official also identified the menace of almajiri (pupils of non-formal Qur’anic schools) in parts of the country as one of the reasons for the increasing number of out-of-school children.
He added, “We know that the phenomenon of the almajiri in different parts of the country has resulted in a vast number of out-of-school children, who are learning, but not the full scope of the learning.
“Spiritual learning is fantastic, and we should encourage it, but it needs to be complemented by numeracy and literacy, to ensure that the child has it in the right environment.”
On the conflicting figures of out-of-school children by UNICEF and the Federal Ministry of Education, Hawkins said the Multi-Indicator Cluster Survey put the out-of-school number at 10.2 million.
He said the figure was produced by the National Bureau of Statistics and other relevant agencies.
According to him, all the figures have been produced by the government; the MICS is by the NBS of Nigeria.
According to Hawkins, the most important issue to deal with is not the figures but the impact they would have on the children.
Related Article: 16 FUOYE STUDENTS SHINE AT FG’S CBT, BAG #2.4M SCHOLARSHIP
Contents
FAQs: Reduce Number of Out-of-School Children, UNICEF Tells FG
Why did UNICEF urge the Federal Government to reduce the number of out-of-school children?
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) called on the Nigerian government to take urgent action to reduce the rising number of children who are out of school. The organisation stressed that access to quality education is a fundamental right and is essential for reducing poverty, improving child development, and creating future opportunities.
How many children are estimated to be out of school in Nigeria?
Nigeria has one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children globally, with millions of children, particularly at the primary and secondary school levels, not having access to formal education. UNICEF has repeatedly highlighted insecurity, poverty, poor infrastructure, and economic challenges as major factors contributing to the crisis.
What factors contribute to the high number of out-of-school children in Nigeria?
Several issues contribute to children being unable to attend school, including:
- Poverty and inability to afford education-related expenses
- Insecurity and attacks on schools
- Child labour and early marriage
- Poor access to schools, especially in rural communities
- Shortage of qualified teachers and learning materials
- Displacement caused by conflicts and natural disasters
What solutions did UNICEF recommend to address the education crisis?
UNICEF encouraged the government to invest more in the education sector by improving school infrastructure, training teachers, providing learning materials, strengthening school safety, and implementing policies that make education accessible and affordable for all children.
How can reducing the number of out-of-school children benefit Nigeria?
Increasing school enrolment can help Nigeria develop a more skilled workforce, reduce poverty, promote gender equality, and improve social and economic development. Educating more children also helps reduce vulnerability to exploitation and increases opportunities for young people to contribute positively to society.
