In spite of efforts by governments, many more Nigerian children are dropping out of school. Although the Federal Ministry of Education is picking holes in the 2021 figures of an analytical statistics organisation, SBMorgan Intelligence, that put the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria at 12.3 million, the latest data of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, says the current number is 20 million.
UNESCO, which says a new and improved methodology was used to arrive at the latest figures, said there are “244 million children and youth between the ages of 6 and 18 worldwide (who) are still out of school”, with India, Nigeria and Pakistan having the highest figures of out-of-school children globally.
Poverty, lack of schools, insecurity and tradition, among others, are the major factors pushing many children out of school.
Daily, during school hours, many underage children who are supposed to be in school, are seen in traffic selling sachet water and assorted drinks; in mechanic workshops and markets learning trade. Some beg for alms in between traffic, others carry loads for a fee in markets, while many are on the streets looking haggard, with some at bus stops ready to snatch bags from commuters.
The ugly trend is despite the provisions of Article 28 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which every country is a signatory, including Nigeria.
The Article states: “States Parties recognize the right of the child to education and with a view to achieving this right progressively and on the basis of equal opportunity, they shall, in particular:
Make primary education compulsory and available free to all; encourage the development of different forms of secondary education, including general and vocational education, make them available and accessible to every child, and take appropriate measures such as the introduction of free education and offering financial assistance in case of need;
According to UNICEF, a United Nations agency, Nigeria accounts for more than one in five out-of-school children anywhere in the world.
The agency reported that only 67 per cent of eligible children take up a place in primary school. If a child misses school for even a short time, there is only a low chance, only about 25 per cent, that the child will ever return. It added that girls suffer more than boys in terms of missing out on education.
In the North-East of Nigeria, only 41 per cent of eligible girls receive primary education. The figure is 47 per cent in the North-West. Social attitudes also impact negatively education rates, especially in northern Nigeria.
In North-eastern and North-western states, 29 per cent and 35 per cent of Muslim children, respectively, attend Qur’anic schools, which do not include basic education skills, such as literacy and numeracy. These children are officially considered out of school by the government.
Situation in Lagos
Lagos is said to be the 3rd state with the highest number of out-of-school children in the South-West. It has 1,009 public schools spread across 20 local government areas, out of which 10 has a high number of out-of-school children.
Despite the claim of zero tolerance for out-of-school children, experts say if the government enrols six children in school today, 10 will be back on the streets tomorrow.
Vanguard spoke with some of the out-of-school children at different locations in the state.
Rasheed Tijani, a 9-year-old apprentice in a mechanic workshop, said he was in a public school before in Ikorodu. He started learning the trade when he was eight years old. According to him, his parents said they saw that he was too slow in learning and could not afford to allow him to continue to waste his time in school. “I am learning to become a car mechanic but I would have preferred to be in school,”Tijani told Vanguard Metro.
“Money to transport me to school is too much because it is far from our house. I am happy here too and I know all of us will still meet up one day,” he philosophized.
At Orile Iganmu, some of the children cleaning cars in traffic ran away when Vanguard approached them to ask why they weren’t in school. One of them, who momentarily waited and simply called himself Ahmed, said, “I don’t want to go to school. Leave me alone.” On Mile 12 Bridge, two girls selling cut foam in the traffic were approached by Vanguard. One of them, Sarah, who looked 13 years old because of her body features, said, “I will go to school but I still want to sell and make money for my grandma.”
The second girl, Miriam, of the same age group, said: “I stopped going to school. My parents are in the village and I’m selling for my aunt who promised that I will go back to school”.
Government has power to take children out of street – ASOHON
Lagos Chapter of Association of Orphanages and Homes Operators in Nigeria, ASOHON, through its Coordinator, Alhaji Ganiyu Olayiwola Dosunmu, said the government had the power to take out-of-school children off the streets, feed and redirect their minds from hooliganism, kidnapping, banditry to positive ventures that would benefit everyone.
“Orphans outside there are more than those kept in orphanage homes. They are without parents or guardians. They only have useless teachers who put them into drinking alcohol, hard drugs, smoking etc.
‘’Unless concrete steps are taken by the government and the society to look out for orphans to provide social and emotional support to address their needs, society may be in great danger. Giving them food on the roads once a year does not solve their problem,” ASOHON said.
Address policy gaps in school enrolment
Human Development Initiative, HDI, a non-governmental agency, through its Project Coordinator, Mr Ibidapo Johnson, said: “If a state has zero tolerance to out-of-school children, then its gate must be opened throughout the year to enrol children. Government must be creative on re-enrolment timing. Government should also open its gates to Public Private Partnership for more infrastructural development as the current infrastructure cannot accommodate all out-of-school children.”
What the law says
UBE Act provides free and compulsory universal basic education for every Nigerian child of school age group and it is an offence for a parent not to enrol his or her ward in school as a such parent is liable under the UBE Act to a jail term.
According to the Act, “A parent who contravenes Section 2 (2) of this Act commits an offence and is liable- (a) on a first conviction, to be reprimanded; (b) on a second conviction, to a fine of N 2, 000 or imprisonment for a term of one month or to both; and (c) on subsequent conviction, to a fine of N5, 000 or imprisonment for a term of 2 months or both.”
Lagos State Executive Board Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board, Wahab Alawiye-King, in a telephone chat, stated that the out-of-school children phenomenon is not limited to Lagos alone.
He said: “We are now looking at the psycho-social aspect of the issue which may be stress from the family like divorce, and sicknesses which get their wards out of school.
“When these parents don’t have their mind at rest, there is every possibility to jettison every other thing including bringing their children to school. As part of the second phase of Project Zero, we are collaborating with the Ministry of Women Affairs to identify those parents that are in dire need of support to ensure their wards go back to school.
“The ministry has agreed to work with us. We have come up with modalities to address the issue.
“The School Based Management Committee is also working with us. Parents’ forum and other educational inclined organisations are also working with us to ensure school enrolment continues to increase.’’
Situation escalating in 6 South-South states
In the six South-South states, there is wide-ranging disconnect among out-of-school children, parents/guardians and state governments, in spite of claims by government officials that measures are in place to tackle the anomaly.
Children moan in Bayelsa
In Bayelsa, many disadvantaged children prefer to be in school like their mates but cannot afford school fees and other necessities, hence they resort to the streets to help augment their parents’ income.
Fourteen-year-old Patrick Edward, who is living with his uncle, was seen at Ekeki Park, Yenagoa during school hours, helping his uncle to sell hand watch and other accessories, said: “I did not go to school because my uncle has not paid my school and other fees. I attend a private school.”
Asked why he was not attending public school, he said: “We stay very far from the nearest public school.”
Victoria Edet, who hawks sachet water during school hours, said: “My mother and I hawk wares, I sell pure water because there is profit in it and my parents said I should be selling the pure water to support the family, that I will start school next year.”
Breadwinners in Akwa Ibom
Our findings in Akwa-Ibom State showed the situation of out-of-school children has not improved, notwithstanding the existing Child Rights Law in the state.
The condition is even worse in rural communities where both primary and secondary schools are not easily accessible. Some of the children, who spoke to Vanguard, said they were abandoned and others, who cited varying reasons, said they were living with their parents, relatives/guardians.
An orphan, Gabriel Udo, aged 15, living with his aunt in Uyo, said he hawks sachet water to support their source of income.
“I would like to go to school but there is no money. I do not have parents, and my aunt said there is no money for me to go to secondary school after I completed my JSS3,” he simply said.