Nigeria targets 20 million out-of-school children with new education initiatives

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmed, has announced a major intervention targeting an estimated 10 million to 20 million out-of-school children. To address this, the Ministry is developing a national education data platform and conducting nationwide mapping exercises through various national commissions.

A key component of the strategy involves establishing bilingual schools that integrate religious and conventional education. This initiative is being prioritized in eight states with high numbers of out-of-school children, with models already operational in Maiduguri and Kano. The Almajiri Policy will also clarify the educational responsibilities of federal, state, and local governments.

In a separate effort to improve educational quality, Professor Ahmed has urged educators to embrace digital competence. During a workshop supported by UNESCO and the Government of Japan, she emphasized that digital literacy is essential for modern teaching. The training aims to equip master trainers with skills in gender-responsive pedagogy, ICT, and the prevention of school-related gender-based violence, aligning with the Federal Government’s Education Sector Renewal Initiative.