The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has said that there is an impending education crisis with 10.5 million children out of primary schools in Nigeria.
According to the Fund, twenty percent of children out of school in the world; are from the country.
UNICEF Country Representative, Peter Hawkins gave the warnings, yesterday, to mark International Day of Education in Abuja.
“We welcome the Federal Government’s pledge to increase Nigeria’s annual domestic education expenditure by 50 per cent in the next two years, he said.
He further disclosed that N17 trillion has been budgeted and signed into law for the 2022 budget, as 7.2 per cent is allocated to the education sector.
Besides, he added that it’s a step forward with 5.7 per cent allocations for 2021, but in short to reach the internationally recommended benchmark.
He said that Nigeria’s education system can be transformed through adequate funding to ensure schools are safe with application of gender-responsive policies.
The policies, according to him, include recruitment of female teachers, improved facilities for girls; creation of multiple and flexible learning pathways for students with digital and transferable skills learning.
“There should be integration of foundational numeracy and literacy in Qur’anic schools; and teacher training in the latest methodologies,” he said.
He lamented that children attending schools are, however; not getting a solid education that ensures their future prospects.
“No less than 10.5 million children are out of school in Nigeria, the highest rate in the world,” he declared, stating that 20% of them in the world are from Nigeria
He further disclosed that 33% of Nigerian children are not in primary schools, warning that their future prospects are bleak with frustrations.
According to him; “About 35 percent of Nigerian children who attend primary schools do not go on to attend secondary school.”
He lamented that 50% of all Nigerian children did not attend secondary schools in 2021.
UNICEF representative, said that the education crisis is seriously affecting children across the country, as some of them are more likely to be affected than others.
“The ones being affected include girls, children with disabilities from the poorest households and in streets,” he said.
The children, according to him, are affected by displacement or emergencies, including hard to reach areas because of the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the northeast.
Besides, he added that the areas are, however; disproportionately affected by the education crisis in the country.
On how conflict affected children’s education, he said: “In 2021, there were 25 attacks on schools with the abduction of 1,440 children and 16 were killed.
“In March 2021, no less than 618 schools were closed in six northern states of Sokoto, Zamfara, Kano, Katsina, Niger, and Yobe.
According to him, the closures were over the fears of attack and abduction of pupils and members of staff.
He noted that the closure of schools in these states significantly contributed to learning losses for over two months.
He said children never make the transition from primary to secondary school, thereby cutting off their chances for a secure future.
Continued: “As we celebrate the International Day of Education today amid concerns in much of the world on the impact of COVID-19 on education, we must look at what is happening to our children in Nigeria,” he said.
He therefore urged community leaders, parents, teachers and the caregivers to find the best strategies for enrolling children into schools.
“The children should have access to continuous learning to acquire quality skills that equip them for a prosperous future,” he said, as well as they are safe when they are in schools.
