The term out-of-school is an inclusive concept that is associated with the non-attendance of school age children due to some established reason or factor. UNESCO defines it as the number of children and young people in the official age range for the given level of education who are not enrolled in pre-primary, primary, secondary or higher level of education. In a 2022 UNESCO report, the global number of out-of-school children has risen by 6 million since 2021 and now totals 250 million. The increase in figure, according to the global education monitoring group, is as a result of the continuing stagnation of education across the world.
In Nigeria, out-of-school children are a significant issue that poses challenges to both the children and the country as a whole. In the same UNESCO report mentioned above, there are approximately close to 20 million Nigerians of its approximately 200 million population that are not enrolled in school. This amount to about 20 percent of Nigeria’s entire population and more than the overall population of the Gambia, Togo, Liberia and Gabon put together. Globally, Nigeria ranks third among countries with the highest number of out-of-school children, behind only to India and Pakistan.
There are various reasons why children in Nigeria are out of school, including poverty, cultural practices, insecurity, lack of infrastructure, and inadequate funding for education. It is estimated that one in every five of the world’s out-of-school children reside in Nigeria. UNICEF identified several factors, including poverty, insecurity cultural practices, gender inequality, among others, as responsible for the rising figure.
Poverty is a major factor that contributes to the high number of out-of-school children in Nigeria. It plays a significant role in keeping millions of children and youths out of the school environment. Many families, especially those in rural areas cannot afford the cost of education, including school fees, uniforms, books, and transportation. As a result of this factor, children are forced to stay at home and miss out on educational opportunities. Most of them end up in the street engaging in menial activities.
Gender inequality is also a major factor that affects children’s access to education in Nigeria. Girls are often kept out of school due to cultural beliefs and practices that prioritize boy’s education. Some communities prioritize early marriage of girls over education, leading to high dropout rates. This and other cultural beliefs devalue formal education, leading to low enrollment rates in schools, especially in the rural areas of the country.
Insecurity in Nigeria has also affected children’s access to education. From north to south, insecurity pervades the nation’s space. Boko Haram, a terrorist group, has targeted schools in the North East leading to the closure of many educational institutions and creating a climate of fear that deters students from attending school. Schools have been targets of attack, and children and their teachers abducted and killed by the mindless terrorists. The Chibok and Dapchi abductions comes to mind. It is the same scenario in the North West where increase in the activities of Bandits has led to the closure of schools. This is also not different from what is happening in the South East where the activities of IPOB and unknown gun men have created fear in the mind of the people leading to school children staying away from the classrooms. In some part of the south west, kidnapping reign supreme. The South South and North Central geo-political zones are also not free from the insecurity that clouded the whole nation
Infrastructure problems in schools are also a factor. It not only affects academic performance but also infringe on the right to education, safety, and health of both learner and teachers. Lack of infrastructure, like we have in schools located in rural areas contributes to the high number of out-of-school children in Nigeria. In some rural areas, children travel long distances to reach the nearest school, which can be dangerous and costly. Additionally, some of these rural schools lack basic amenities like classrooms, desks, and toilets, making it difficult for children to learn in a conducive environment.
Funding is pivotal to improving access to education. It is essential to ensure that all students have access to quality education at all levels. However, this becomes a problem where there are inadequate funding for the provision of physical and instructional facilities. The implication of this is, it will lead to declining enrolment of pupils and students. Inadequate funding is therefore a key issue that affects the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria. A situation where the government continues to allocate a low percentage of its budget to education will lead to a lack of resources for schools and teachers. This will consequently results to poor quality education, and a lack of motivation for children to attend school.
The government through the implementation of different education reforms have continue to make efforts to address the issue of out-of-school children in Nigeria. Implementations of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme and the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult, and Non-Formal Education are some of such initiatives. However, more needs to be done to ensure that every child in the country has access to quality education. Also civil society organisations and the international community have critical roles to play in addressing the issue of out-of-school children in Nigeria through working in partnership with the federal, state and local government by building schools, providing support, resources and advocacy to improve the quality of education for all children.
The issue of out-of-school children in Nigeria is a complex and pressing challenge that requires a multi-faceted and coordinated effort from all stakeholders to address. This includes addressing poverty through targeted interventions, raising awareness about the importance of education, improving infrastructure and security in conflict-affected areas, and increasing funding for education. By working together, government, civil society, and other stakeholders can help ensure that all children in Nigeria have access to quality education and a brighter future.
Ejiofor is a Deputy Registrar with Yaba College of Technology, Lagos.
