UBEC Teams Up with Traditional Leaders to Address Out-of-School Children

The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) is working with traditional and religious leaders to tackle the issue of children not attending school in Nigeria. This partnership aims to use the influence of these leaders to identify out-of-school children and help enroll them in schools across the country.

UBEC announced this initiative after signing an agreement with the Sultan Foundation for Peace and Development. The plan includes monitoring school attendance and ensuring that children who enroll do not drop out. The focus will be on communities that face challenges like poverty and cultural barriers that limit access to education.

As part of this effort, local committees will be set up to promote education at the community level. Traditional and religious leaders will encourage parents to prioritize their children’s education. The partnership will also create educational materials in local languages to help identify and enroll out-of-school children.

Aisha Garba, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, emphasized that solving the out-of-school crisis needs more than just government funding. She stated that community leaders play a crucial role in influencing family decisions and mobilizing support for education.

The initiative will pay special attention to girls, who often face additional barriers to education. The agreement includes accountability measures to recognize communities and leaders that show progress in improving school access.

Despite ongoing efforts, Nigeria still struggles with a significant number of out-of-school children. According to UNICEF, about 10 million children are not in school, with many located in areas affected by insecurity and poverty. The government is also conducting a mapping exercise to better understand the situation and improve interventions.

Garba noted that UBEC has already built and renovated thousands of classrooms and provided essential facilities to benefit millions of learners. She reiterated the importance of community involvement in ensuring the success of educational reforms.