Nigeria educational reforms for nomadic and Almajiri youth

Nigeria is addressing significant educational gaps affecting nomadic and Almajiri populations. Reports from the National Commission for Nomadic Education (NCNE) indicate that approximately 5.2 million nomadic children are out of school due to factors such as occupational mobility, climate change, and limited access to traditional schooling. The NCNE has identified specific populations of out-of-school children across several states and the Federal Capital Territory, advocating for alternative learning pathways like the Accelerated Basic Education Programme to provide quicker, equivalent educational outcomes.

In response to these challenges, the Nigerian Federal Government has introduced reforms through the National Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI). These reforms focus on five pillars: foundational literacy, numeracy, vocational and technical education, digital education, and civic education. To implement these changes, the government is encouraging states to domesticate the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education Act and is utilizing the Nigerian Education Data Infrastructure to better track deficiencies in students, teachers, and infrastructure.