The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says Nigeria’s education crisis is evolving into a more complex challenge driven by poverty, rapid population growth, poor learning outcomes, and growing concerns about the value of education.

The UNICEF Education Specialist Harold Kpojime stated this at a two-day media dialogue on digital learning, artificial intelligence and skills development for out-of-school children held in Ede, Osun State.

The media dialogue was organised by UNICEF in partnership with the Osun State Ministry of Education, the Federal Ministry of Education, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), among others.

The workshop attracted journalists from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo and Edo states.

Mr Kpojime said the crisis persists in an economy with limited job opportunities, noting that Nigeria’s education challenge can no longer be viewed solely through the lens of access to schooling.

Citing findings from the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), he said Nigeria still has one of the largest populations of out-of-school children globally, with about one in three primary school-age children not attending school.

He, however, stressed that a second crisis exists within classrooms.

“It is no longer just about getting children into school; we are also dealing with poor learning outcomes. We have children in school who are not learning adequately,” he said.

Data presented at the dialogue showed that only 68.4 per cent of primary school-age children attend school nationally, while attendance drops to 47.6 per cent at junior secondary level and 46.7 per cent at senior secondary level.

Although the South-West performs above the national average, with about 82 per cent primary school attendance compared to the national figure of 68 per cent, Mr Kpojime noted that many learners are still lost as they progress to higher levels of education.

He identified rapid population growth as a key factor intensifying pressure on already stretched educational and economic resources.

“One factor we often overlook when discussing Nigeria’s challenges is population growth. As the population rises, opportunities shrink because resources are not expanding at the same pace,” he said.

Mr Kpojime also observed that many young people increasingly question the value of formal education due to rising unemployment and underemployment.

“We encourage children to stay in school, but there is no guarantee of jobs after graduation. Some may feel they are better off learning a trade or starting a business,” he added.

Despite these concerns, he maintained that education remains the most reliable pathway to improved life outcomes and national development.

He highlighted challenges in foundational learning, recalling his experience as a university student where some peers struggled with basic English despite years of schooling.

“That is the reality we face. It underscores the importance of language policy, as children learn better when taught in a language they understand,” he said.

Mr Kpojime identified teacher quality as a critical factor affecting learning outcomes, noting that many states have gone years without structured teacher training.

“We must invest in teachers. They are central to addressing the learning crisis and reducing the number of out-of-school children,” he said.

To support teaching and learning, he highlighted the Nigerian Learning Passport, a digital platform developed through collaboration between UNICEF, the Federal Ministry of Education and Microsoft.

According to him, the platform provides free, curriculum-aligned educational resources for learners and teachers from early childhood through secondary education. 

He added that telecommunications company Airtel has zero-rated the platform, allowing users to access its content without data charges.

The dialogue is supported by the World Bank, the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education, the Global Partnership for Education, Microsoft, and education authorities at federal, state and local government levels, among others.

(NAN)