The Federal Government has raised fresh concern over Nigeria’s growing out-of-school children crisis, disclosing that about 15 million children are currently not enrolled in school nationwide. The revelation was made at the 2026 Basic Education in Nigeria Bootcamp held in Jos, Plateau State, where officials emphasised the urgency of addressing the situation. The scale of the out-of-school children challenge highlights deep structural gaps in access to education and learning outcomes across the country.
Nigeria has consistently ranked among countries with the highest number of out-of-school children globally, reflecting persistent barriers such as poverty, insecurity, and limited access to quality education. The issue has remained a major policy concern due to its long-term impact on human capital development and national growth.
The Federal Ministry of Education has continued to pursue reforms aimed at improving enrolment, retention, and learning outcomes, particularly through data-driven planning and targeted interventions.
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed that credible education data and accurate learner tracking are essential to resolving the crisis. He stated, “Reliable data remains the backbone of effective education reform. Without knowing where the children are and why they are out of school, meaningful solutions cannot be implemented.”
To strengthen tracking and planning, the ministry is expanding the Digital National Education Management Information System and accelerating the rollout of the Learner Identification Number for real-time monitoring of learners nationwide.
According to the minister, the 2025/2026 Annual School Census has already captured over two million learners, providing data to guide policy decisions and improve enrolment strategies. He added that nearly one million out-of-school children have been identified and mapped for reintegration into formal education and alternative learning pathways.
In terms of funding, states accessed over ₦106 billion in Universal Basic Education Commission matching grants between January 2025 and January 2026. Additionally, ₦22 billion was invested in teacher training, benefiting about 978,000 teachers nationwide.
The government also reported infrastructure and resource improvements, including the renovation of more than 10,000 classrooms and the distribution of 7.8 million textbooks to enhance learning conditions. Stakeholders at the event, including state officials and education experts, described the out-of-school children situation as a national emergency with implications for literacy, productivity, and social stability.
The persistence of the out-of-school children crisis poses significant risks to Nigeria’s socio-economic development, including increased poverty levels, youth unemployment, and vulnerability to insecurity. Experts note that failure to address the issue could weaken the country’s long-term development prospects, as education remains central to workforce productivity and national competitiveness.
