FG Unveils New Reforms to Tackle Almajiri, Out-of-School Children

The Federal Government of Nigeria has introduced new reforms to tackle the issue of children not attending school and those who are enrolled but not receiving a proper education. Dr. Balarabe Kakale, the Special Adviser to the Minister of Education on Almajiri and Out-of-School Children, announced these reforms in Kaduna on Monday during an advocacy and stakeholder engagement event focused on these issues.

The reforms are based on five key pillars: foundational literacy and numeracy, vocational and technical education, digital education, and civic education. These policies will be implemented by states, which are urged to adapt the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education Act to suit their unique educational challenges. The reforms also include policies on Almajiri education, non-state schools, alternative pathways, and the Accelerated Basic Education Programme.

The government is promoting data sovereignty through the Nigerian Education Data Infrastructure and digital education management systems, which will help track every aspect of a child's education, from enrolment to retention and academic progress. Currently, there is no final figure for the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, so reliable data is essential for effective policy interventions.

The North-west states are encouraged to adopt federal education policies and digital data initiatives to accelerate efforts to bring children back into the school system. The Federal Government believes that coordinated implementation of these reforms will help Nigeria become a leading nation in Africa in terms of education.