Kano State is facing a major education challenge, with more than 870,000 children reportedly out of school, highlighting the scale of the barriers limiting access to basic education in the state.
The figure, contained in a recent report, has renewed concerns among education stakeholders over the need for stronger interventions to ensure that children of school age are enrolled and retained in school.
The large number of out-of-school children reflects a combination of social and economic challenges, including poverty, limited access to schools in some communities, insecurity, inadequate educational infrastructure and the need for families to involve children in economic activities.
For many low-income households, the cost associated with education, including uniforms, learning materials, transportation and other expenses, can discourage regular school attendance.
In some communities, long distances between homes and schools also present a significant challenge, particularly for younger children.
Education stakeholders have warned that leaving a large number of children outside the formal education system could have serious long-term consequences for the state’s human capital development.
They said children who do not receive basic education face reduced opportunities for employment and economic advancement, potentially reinforcing cycles of poverty across generations.
The situation has also increased calls for the Kano State Government and other stakeholders to expand access to affordable and quality basic education.
Stakeholders have advocated increased investment in school infrastructure, recruitment and training of teachers, provision of learning materials and targeted programmes for vulnerable children.
They also called for stronger collaboration between government agencies, traditional institutions, community leaders, parents and development organisations to identify children who are out of school and facilitate their return to classrooms.
Experts said interventions should go beyond enrolling children, stressing the importance of ensuring that pupils remain in school and acquire meaningful literacy, numeracy and other foundational skills.
They further recommended stronger monitoring of education programmes and the use of reliable data to identify communities with the highest concentration of out-of-school children.
Addressing the challenge, according to stakeholders, will require sustained funding and policies that tackle the economic and social factors responsible for children dropping out or never enrolling in school.
The report’s figure of more than 870,000 out-of-school children underscores the urgency of the situation and the need for coordinated action to prevent another generation of Kano children from being left behind.
With education widely recognised as a critical driver of economic and social development, stakeholders said reducing the number of out-of-school children should remain a priority for Kano State and Nigeria as a whole.
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