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Nigeria Education System Facing Challenges of Retaining Students – UNICEF

Nigeria’s education system facing challenges of retaining students – UNICEF

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said that Nigeria education system is facing challenges of retaining students.

According to UNICEF, schools in Nigeria, especially in the North East and North West, are having a hard time keeping students in school. This is one of the key challenges faced by the Nigeria Education System. This means many students are leaving school before completing or finishing. Tushar Rane, UNICEF executive, said it’s gotten worse over the last ten years.

“There are millions of children who should be in school but aren’t. For example, about 10.2 million kids who should be in primary school aren’t, and 8.1 million who should be in junior secondary school aren’t there either. This is a big problem globally, and Nigeria is at the top of the list.” he said.

Rane mentioned some numbers that show the problem.

“For example, only 63 percent of kids who should be in primary school actually go regularly. Also, after finishing primary school, only 84 percent of kids move on to junior secondary school. And out of nearly 6 million kids who start primary school each year, less than half continue all the way to junior secondary school” he added.

Yawoji Ahmed Bala, from the Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board, talked about some reasons why kids aren’t staying in school, like getting married early, feeling pressure from friends, and following certain traditions.

To try and fix this, there was a big meeting with important people from different states. They talked about making plans to keep more kids in school and help them finish. They want to focus on helping girls and boys in secondary school stay in school and complete their education.

UNICEF, which stands for the United Nations Children’s Fund, is like a big helper for kids all around the world, especially in Africa. They work to make sure every child has a fair chance to grow up healthy, happy, and educated.

One big thing UNICEF does is help with education. They know that when kids go to school, they learn important things that can help them in life. But in many parts of Africa, there are challenges that stop kids from going to school or staying there. UNICEF tries to fix these problems.

For example, in some places, there might not be enough schools, or the schools might not have good teachers or books. UNICEF helps build new schools and fix up old ones. They also train teachers to be better at teaching, so kids can learn more. And they provide books and other things students need to learn well.

But sometimes, even if there are schools, kids can’t go because they have to work or help their families. UNICEF works with governments and communities to change this. They might provide things like scholarships or free meals at school to encourage kids to come. They also talk to families about why it’s important for kids to go to school, even if times are tough.

Another big problem is that some kids, especially girls, might not go to school because of things like early marriage or because they have to take care of their families. UNICEF helps change these ideas by showing people why education is important for everyone, including girls. They also support programs that help girls stay in school, like providing sanitary pads so girls don’t miss school during their periods.

Overall, UNICEF works hard to make sure every child in Africa has the chance to go to school and learn. They believe that education is key to a better future for everyone, and they’re doing everything they can to make that happen.