FG to conduct nationwide survey of out-of-school children

Nigeria's Federal Government plans to conduct a comprehensive nationwide household survey to determine a precise figure for the country's out-of-school children. Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, acknowledged that existing estimates, which range from 15 to 20 million, no longer reflect the current reality. The initiative, a partnership with the National Bureau of Statistics, seeks to replace assumptions with credible, evidence-based statistics to guide policy decisions and interventions.

Dr. Alausa stated that the survey will offer a clearer picture of the challenge's magnitude and distribution, enabling the government to design more effective programs to improve educational access. While the administration has successfully returned over one million out-of-school children to classrooms in the past two years, the minister emphasized the critical need for accurate data to measure progress and address the issue comprehensively. He stressed President Bola Tinubu's administration's commitment to evidence-based policymaking, asserting that reliable data empowers both the media and citizens to hold public officials accountable.

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The nationwide household survey will provide a clearer picture of the magnitude and distribution of the challenge, enabling the government to design more targeted interventions to improve access to education.

The minister also highlighted ongoing reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda, focusing on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), digital transformation, and improved education governance. Nigeria has achieved three consecutive years without disruptions in university and polytechnic academic activities, attributed to sustained engagement with tertiary institution unions. Furthermore, the country now boasts 24 universities ranked among the world's top 1,000 institutions, with public universities securing the top four positions domestically.

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The government has succeeded in returning more than one million out-of-school children to classrooms over the past two years, obtaining accurate data remained critical to measuring progress and addressing the problem effectively.