“We used to live peacefully. But before we left our home, fear consumed us. Bandits were killing and kidnapping people. My parents allowed us to go to school until one of our neighbours was kidnapped. That was when we fled. We’ve been here for over twenty-four months, and I’ve stopped schooling.”
These are the words of 13-year-old Sani Umar from Gwaigwaye community in Katsina State, who once dreamed of becoming a doctor. Sani is one of many children living away from their homes with no certainty that their ambitions will one day come to life. This raises a pressing question that our so-called working government has yet to answer: Until when will insecurity continue to threaten the future of children, who are the potential leaders of tomorrow? Sadly, insecurity is not the only barrier to education; poverty continues to compound the problem.
HOW BIG IS THE PROBLEM?
As of 2024, 10.2 million primary school-age children and 8.1 million junior secondary school-age children are out of school. Furthermore, 74% of children aged 7–14 lack basic reading and math skills. These challenges do not stem from the parents but from systemic instability, with insecurity at the forefront. Increasing attacks on schools led to the closure of 11 schools in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states. A closer look at the statistics shows that northern states bear the brunt of these educational setbacks, while southern states are comparatively less affected. And they are supposed to compete in the labour market in the near future, where is the level playing ground?
Beyond insecurity, displacement creates further ripple effects. According to the IOM UN Migration Report, children make up 55% of the internally displaced population, with 30% being female. Within the Northeast alone (Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states), 98,680 girls in camps and camp-like settings are among the 188,606 out-of-school children, yet only 29,955 girls are currently enrolled in school. These figures clearly depict the widening educational gap in Nigeria. During displacement, not only are properties lost, but the guarantee of quality education for affected children is severely disrupted, compounded by a government that lacks contingency plans for such crises. Poverty is also a formidable barrier to education in Nigeria. Families traumatised by insecurity often leave their communities, abandoning valuable assets such as land.
THE RIGHT TO LEARN, THE RIGHT TO LIVE IN PEACE
When survival becomes the priority, education flies out of the priority window at the speed of light. Every child in Nigeria has a right to read, write and reason, but how many communities can boast of education, how much more quality education. Research by the World Bank shows that while poverty exists across Nigeria, internally displaced persons are poorer than the resident populations. Furthermore, while men and women head households in nearly equal numbers, women experience greater food insecurity than men.
In conclusion, education is a critical tool for social stability. Studies indicate that higher educational attainment is associated with lower crime rates, making education a vital instrument for peace-building and justice in the country. While external organisations like UNICEF are working to provide quality education to children affected by conflict, the Nigerian government must take deliberate and urgent steps to ensure that the wider population does not lack foundational literacy and numeracy skills.
For this reason, PSJ UK urges the government to ensure that educational facilities are diverse, inclusive, and accessible, especially for marginalised children who aspire to become problem solvers in their communities. The government has a responsibility to address these foundational issues, as early intervention prevents further crises in the future.
PSJ UK wishes every child a Happy International Day of Education.
