In Nigeria, there has been an increase in the rate of out-of-school children and even though primary education is mostly free and accessible, statistics illustrates Nigeria has the highest cases of truancy in Sub-Saharan Africa. Reports also show that one in every five out-of-school children in the world resides in Nigeria. Describing this dilemma, The Minister of State Education (resigned Apr 2022), Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, once stated that the present challenge that has hugely affected the country’s educational system has been characterized by level of illiteracy, as well as infrastructural underdevelopment.
Recent data by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) estimates Nigeria’s out-of-school children at over 18 million. This figure which has grown extremely from last year’s 10.5 million shows the recurrent deterioration that has overwhelmed the educational sector in Nigeria. It is however important to note that some factors like poverty and recurring attacks on schools in the north have played a poignant role in the overly increased level of truancy that the educational system faces.
The federal government aims at a 70 percent decrease in the truancy rate.
UNICEF claims that since December 2020, the mass violence and kidnappings have forced numerous children to be absent, as well as Child’s marriage and early pregnancy, especially in the north. The federal government of Nigeria has however set out plans to drastically reduce the out-of-school/truancy rate that has ravaged the country. This plan is aimed at seeing to a 70 percent decrease in the truancy level and this means, a scheme to lift over 12 million children off the streets and take them back to school. This will see to improving the literacy rate in the country.
This was disclosed by Ms. Yosola Akinbi, the Senior Special Adviser to the Vice President on Economic Matters. She asserted that the federal government has been heavily invested in curbing the problem of truancy in the country and enhancing the educational status quo by imminently integrating the out-of-school children back into the classrooms. She added that the government’s focus, as envisioned in terms of target is to cut down the truancy rate by 70 percent.
The plan is also aimed at focusing on doubling female enrollment.
The senior special adviser declared that one of the federal government’s plan in decreasing the out-of-school rate is by doubling the primary school enrollment that will see it increase from 46 percent to 90 percent, and the secondary school enrollment, from 40 percent to 80 percent. She maintained that there was a vision page set by the government. This vision page will serve as a guide, directing the government’s vision in the right path.
Akinbi stated that the plan was also aimed at focusing on the doubling of female enrollment. According to UNICEF’s report, females make up over 60 percent of the 18.5 million out-of-school children in Nigeria. This is as a result of the insistent cases of kidnaps that have harmed children education, especially females; where terrorist groups have been responsible for the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, as well as other mass abduction. Outside reintegrating these out-of-school children, she further asserted the importance of improving the level of education, declaring that the government was also working to improve the teachers’ education.
FG to produce 24 million educated Nigerians in the labour market by 2030.
However, she stated her optimism at a huge increase in the productivity level, projecting an increase to 55 percent by 2030. She further declared that the federal government’s optimism at producing 24 million healthy, educated and efficient Nigerians in the labor market. She noted that this plan by the federal government was the right way forward in the improvement of our labour market, as more educated and productive individuals will be saddled with controlling it efficiently.
Related Link
UNICEF: Website
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