Abuja – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has again reminded the Federal Government of Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari that at least 10.5 million children are out of school in Nigeria, saying it is the highest rate in the world.
The global organisation made the reminder on Monday in a message to celebrate this year’s International Day of Education.
The UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Peter Hawkins, in the statement said a full one-third of Nigerian children are not in school, and one in five out-of-school children in the world is Nigerian.
According to him, while the education crisis in Nigeria is affecting children across the country, some children are more likely to be affected than others: girls, children with disabilities, children from the poorest households, in street situations, or affected by displacement or emergencies, and children in geographically distant areas are all disproportionately affected by the education crisis.
To address the situation, the UNICEF reminded Buhari to fulfil his earlier promise to increase Nigeria’s annual domestic education expenditure by 50 per cent over the next two years, and by 100 per cent by 2025.
Hawkins, said in Nigeria’s N17 trillion 2022 budget signed into law at the end of 2021, 7.2 per cent was allocated to the education sector.
“This is a step forward , an increase from 5.7 per cent allocated for 2021, though there is still a long way to go to reach the internationally recommended benchmark that countries spend 15-20 per cent of their national budgets on education,” he said.
The UNICEF Representative , however, welcomed the government’s pledge to increase Nigeria’s annual domestic education expenditure by 50 per cent over the next two years, and by 100 per cent by 2025.
“The Nigerian Government has committed to increasing funding for education, which is a very important step, far too many Nigerian children today are not in the classroom and for those who are, far too many are not getting a solid education that can translate into good prospects for their futures.”
Hawkins lamented that “millions of Nigerian children have never set foot in a classroom and this is a travesty.’
He added that “perhaps equally tragic is the high number of children who make it into a classroom, but never make the transition from primary school to secondary school, thereby cutting off their chances for a secure future.”
It is estimated that 35 per cent of Nigerian children who attend primary school do not go on to attend secondary school.
Half of all Nigerian children did not attend secondary school in 2021.
“As we celebrate the International Day of Education today amid concerns in much of the world about the impact of COVID-19 on education, we must take a close look at what is happening to our children in Nigeria, and the opportunities they are missing out on when they lack education.
” We need to look towards communities leaders, parents, teachers and caregivers and together, find the best strategies to ensure that all children enroll into school, have access to continuous learning and ensure they emerge with quality skills that equip them for a prosperous future.
“We need to especially ensure that girls have access to learning so they can receive an education that will begin to address issues of gender inequality.
” All girls have much to offer to find solutions to Nigeria’s challenges and we have to nurture their creativity and innovation.
“We also need to ensure that children are safe when they are in school , no child should be afraid to enter a classroom – afraid their school might be attacked or that they will be kidnapped.
” And no parent should fear sending their children to school.”(vitalnews)
