Nigeria unveils reforms to tackle Almajiri and out-of-school children

The Nigerian Federal Government has introduced new reforms to address the challenges facing Almajiri, out-of-school, and non-formal education systems. The initiative aims to ensure all children in the country gain access to relevant knowledge and skills.

Dr. Balarabe Kakale, Special Adviser to the Minister of Education on Almajiri and Out of School Children, announced the policies during a National Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI) engagement in Kaduna. The reforms are built upon five key pillars: foundational literacy, numeracy, vocational and technical education, digital education, and civic education.

To ensure success, the Federal Ministry of Education is seeking to strengthen coordination between federal and state agencies. Kakale urged states to domesticate the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education Act and other related policies, such as the Accelerated Basic Education Programme. Additionally, the government is promoting data sovereignty through the Nigerian Education Data Infrastructure to better track gaps in students, teachers, and school infrastructure.