Education transformation critical for out-of-school children, says UNICEF

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said the transformation of education by the Federal Government and 36 states is critical to secure the future of 10 million out-of- school children.

According to the Fund, educational commitments reflect the pledges to improve learning outcomes, as demonstrated by the UN Secretary-General’s Transformation Education Summit (TES) in New York, a year ago.

Unveiling the children’s educational needs, yesterday, at the Foundation Literacy and Numeracy Seminar, in Maiduguri, Borno State, UNICEF Chief of Field Office, North East, Phuong Nguyen, said: “Educational commitments are critical for Nigeria, particularly in the North East, as there are vast and unique education needs of children affected by the 14-year conflict.”    She noted that the seminar, funded by the European Union (EU), was to strengthen learning outcomes in accelerating skills development by implementing cash transfer programmes.

Phuong added that the transformation of education in the North East included the dedication of ‘special statutory funds’ to Universal Basic Education (UBE) and other special programmes.

She lamented the 1.6 million out-of-school children in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.
According to her, 72 per cent of those in school cannot read a simple text after completing their primary education.

“Despite these disturbing number of out-of-school children, all hope is not lost,” she said, noting that UNICEF had been supporting state governments to implement effective evidence-based programmes.

She said the evidence-based programmes were to strengthen Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) skills such as Teaching At the Right Level (TARL) as well as Kanuri Reading and Arithmetic Intervention (KARI).

On learning outcomes, she said: “These approaches have been effective to significantly improve student learning outcomes in the conflict-affected region.”
She, therefore, urged the seminar participants from the education sector and development partners to learn more about what is working.

“You are to adopt and implement what is required to expand these approaches to communities and locations where the most disadvantaged children in the North East live,” she said.

Besides, they are to explore partnerships with the affected states, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), development partners and communities.

“Today’s seminar provides us with a platform to share evidence, experiences and to renew our commitment to improving learning outcomes of schoolgirls and boys,” she added.