World Out-Of-School Children Ranking: Education Minister Reveals Nigeria’s Position
By Sule Muhammed
The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, has said that Nigeria, according to a report by UNICEF and UBEC ranks first in the world as the country with the highest number of out-of-school children.
Adamu who said this at the 65th National Council on Education (NCE) meeting on Thursday in Jalingo, Taraba State, however said that Federal government is working on measures to eradicate out-of-school children phenomenon in Nigeria.
His word; “It is worrisome, going by the speculation and survey of UNICEF and UBEC that Nigeria ranks top-most amongst countries with the highest number of out-of-school children in world. More frightening too, is the fact that in every one out of five out-of-school children in world is a Nigerian; thus pegging the figure at about 10.1 millions.
“Coincidentally, the recent occurrences in the country’s education system such as kidnaping, adoption of pupils/students, increased activities of insurgence and general Insecurities in our school have added to the Long list of factors responsible for the growing numbers of out-of-school children apart from the fundamental factors of cultural, political, poverty and religious beliefs”.
He further stress that necessary measures have been put in place to eradicate such menace. He noted that the figure number was about 10.1 millions in 2019 but reduced to 6 millions in 2020.
