Northern leaders have attributed the high number of out-of-school children to insufficient investment by state and local governments in basic education.
In interviews with The PUNCH, these leaders also pointed to indoctrination and insurgency as contributing factors to the severe educational crisis, particularly in northern Nigeria.
According to 2023 data from the United Nations Children’s Fund, Nigeria has approximately 10.2 million children out of school at the primary level and 8.1 million at the junior secondary level, making it the country with the highest number of out-of-school children globally.
In an interview in Abuja, House of Representatives member Alhassan Doguwa expressed concern about the state of basic education. He acknowledged the Federal Government’s efforts to improve education but emphasized that state governments must assume greater responsibility.
Doguwa stated, “While we have federal agencies of government such as the Universal Basic Education Commission meant to complement the efforts of the state governments; the fact remains that the state governors must be held accountable and responsible for effective basic education administration in Nigeria.”
He continued, “It is disheartening looking at the state of increasing devastation in our school administration. Lack of proper funding and appropriate attention are the causal factors leading to the menace of out-of-school children, especially in the northern part of Nigeria. In my opinion, and by the principles of the federal democracy that we are operating today; most of the things to do with the administration and sustenance of basic or primary education is a constitutional responsibility of the state and local government.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Yerima Shettima, National Chairman of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, acknowledged that the Federal Government’s introduction of a student loan scheme is a positive development. However, he expressed concerns about potential shortcomings of the program.
Shettima remarked, “While the Federal Government’s introduction of a student loan scheme aims to alleviate some of the challenges, apprehensions regarding its implementation and potential for misuse persist. Therefore, a multi-faceted approach is imperative to effectively address the scourge of out-of-school children in the North.”
He further emphasized the need for a comprehensive strategy, saying, “The menace of out-of-school children in Northern Nigeria demands immediate and comprehensive action. While the Federal Government’s student loan scheme is a step in the right direction, it is essential to adopt a more holistic approach that addresses the root causes of educational disenfranchisement. By ensuring accessibility, engaging communities, leveraging technology, and establishing robust oversight mechanisms for financial initiatives, Nigeria can significantly mitigate the challenges surrounding out-of-school children.”
Adding to the discourse, the former Secretary General of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Anthony Sani, highlighted religious beliefs as a factor impeding some children from embracing Western education. He also mentioned the insufficient resources available to state governments.
Sani proposed, “Savings from the removal of fuel subsidy can be put in a trust fund for the exclusive use of the development of human capital. I say this because the current management of palliatives for over a year now has not yielded the desired result.”
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