Jigawa, Kano and Katsina lead in out-of-school children crisis
Three northern states have been identified as having the highest numbers of out-of-school children in Nigeria. UNICEF highlighted the urgent need for investment in early childhood education to address this issue. Aisha Abdullahi, an education consultant, emphasized that early learning is crucial for preventing children from dropping out. Stakeholders are calling for stronger policy action and greater parental involvement, especially from fathers.
Highlights
- UNICEF reports that Nigeria has about 18.3 million out-of-school children, the highest globally.
- Jigawa, Kano, and Katsina contribute nearly 30 per cent of this figure, driven by poverty, insecurity, and cultural barriers.
- Aisha Abdullahi stressed that early childhood education is key to reducing dropout rates and improving lifelong learning outcomes.
- Stakeholders noted that less than 15 per cent of fathers are involved in early learning, and increasing their participation could cut dropout rates by up to 50 per cent.
- Recommendations include expanding early childhood education, increasing budget allocation, training more teachers, and integrating traditional and religious education systems.
