UNICEF declares Nigeria as the country with the highest number of out of school children

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s status as the country with the largest number of out-of-school children globally.

According to UNICEF, only 63% of primary school children regularly attend school, with a staggering 10.2 million primary school-age children and an additional 8.1 million at the junior secondary level out of school.

This was stated by Dr. Tushar Rane, Chief of Field Office, Bauchi UNICEF Field Office, during a regional stakeholders’ engagement meeting in Bauchi, Gombe, and Adamawa states.

UNICEF lamented the low learning achievement in the country, particularly in the North-East and North-West sub-regions.

According to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2021, only 84% of children transition to junior secondary education after completing primary school.

Furthermore, less than 50% of children who start primary school complete junior secondary education.

The analysis of MICS reports between 2011 and 2021 shows a significant increase in dropout rates across all genders at the primary level, especially in the northern part of the country.

The primary-level dropout rate rose from 1% in 2011 to 5% in 2021, with a similar upward trend noticeable among students from the poorest wealth quintile.

However, UNICEF has assured that, in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), they have developed the “National Framework of Action to Reduce the Number of Out-of-School Children in Nigeria” and the “Retention, Transition, and Completion Model” to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.