FG to conduct nationwide survey on out-of-school children

The Federal Government will conduct a comprehensive nationwide household survey to establish an accurate figure for Nigeria’s out-of-school children.

The Federal Government will conduct a comprehensive nationwide household survey to establish an accurate figure for Nigeria’s out-of-school children. Education Minister Dr Tunji Alausa stated that the government is partnering with the National Bureau of Statistics to generate reliable data. He noted that existing estimates no longer reflect reality, and the fresh data will guide better policy interventions.

Nigeria has one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children in the world, with estimates ranging from 10 million to 20 million. The lack of accurate data has made it difficult to design effective interventions. The survey is intended to address that gap.

This echoes the 2010s education data collection efforts, which also sought to generate reliable statistics on school enrolment. The mechanism then was different, but the result was the same: a recognition that policy cannot be effective without data.

The winners: the Nigerian education system, which gains better data, and the children who will benefit from better policy interventions. The losers: the government, which must implement the findings, and the Nigerian public, which has heard similar promises before.

Bottom Line: Nigeria is counting its out-of-school children. The data will guide policy. The question is whether the policy will follow.