The Federal Government has raised renewed concern over Nigeria’s growing out-of-school children challenge, disclosing that about 15 million children are currently not enrolled in school.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, made this known at the 2026 Basic Education in Nigeria Bootcamp held in Jos, Plateau State, where he said the government is intensifying efforts to address the crisis through data-driven reforms, improved coordination, and targeted investments in the education sector.
He stressed that reliable and accurate education data remains essential for tackling long-standing challenges such as poor literacy and numeracy levels, noting that effective planning depends on knowing the exact number and location of out-of-school children.
According to him, the ministry is expanding the Digital National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) and rolling out the Learner Identification Number system to enable real-time tracking of students across the country.
He added that the 2025/2026 school census has already captured over two million learners, providing key data to guide education policies and improve enrolment strategies.
The minister also revealed that nearly one million out-of-school children have been mapped for reintegration into formal education and alternative learning systems.
Between January 2025 and January 2026, he said states accessed over N106 billion in UBEC matching grants to strengthen basic education delivery, while about N22 billion was invested in teacher training, benefiting nearly one million educators nationwide.
He further disclosed that over 10,000 classrooms have been renovated and 7.8 million textbooks distributed to improve learning conditions across schools.
The government is also expanding programmes targeting vulnerable groups, including Almajiri and non-formal education initiatives, with thousands of teachers trained and learning centres established nationwide.
Other stakeholders at the event, including the Minister of State for Education and Plateau State officials, emphasized the importance of coordinated action, infrastructure development, and digital learning in addressing the crisis.
Experts at the bootcamp warned that Nigeria’s out-of-school children situation remains a major national concern, with estimates ranging even higher than government figures, describing it as a threat to social stability and economic development.
The Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring inclusive and quality education for all children through improved data systems, increased funding, and sustained reforms.
