By Tina George, Minna
Fifty-five per cent of children between ages 4 to 16 in Yobe and Kebbi states, have never attended school, the 2020 Nigeria Education Data Survey (NEDS), has revealed.
The survey, which is for the evaluation of Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) operation, was launched and disseminated in Minna on Tuesday.
It also showed that Kebbi state has the highest of 59 percentage of out of school children followed by Yobe and Zamfara states which have 57 and 51 per cent, respectively.
At the time of the survey, the children were computed as the number that has never attended school as well as those that are dropouts.
The report also showed that Rivers state tops the states with the highest proportion of children in school, accounting for 94 per cent; followed by Oyo and Ebonyi states with 85 and 84 per cent, respectively. Drop-outs is highest in Zamfara and Sokoto states put at 16 per cent each.
Ebonyi recorded the highest net attendance ratio for the primary school under the period under review with 79 per cent; followed by Kaduna and Oyo states which recorded 77 and 76 per cent respectively. Kebbi has the lowest primary school net attendance ratio at 38 per cent.
Jigawa has the highest number of children who could not read, while Sokoto and Jigawa states have the hugest number of children who could not understand what they read or solve at least one or double-digit problem.
The report further stated that the perceived problem of parents with schools include the physical condition of the schools, overcrowding and learners safety.
Accessibility and support for those living with disability remains a problem that is yet to be addressed in government-owned and private schools.
Launching the survey, the Chairman of the National Populations Commission (NPC), Nasir Isa Kwara explained that the report is a sample that is nationally representative, adding that it took place in all states of the federation and the FCT with special focus on the 17 BESDA intervention states.
“The 2020 NEDS was carried out in 9,711 enumeration areas, in focused states while 458 enumeration areas were covered in the non-focused states.”
Nasir, who was represented by the Niger state NPC Director, Uthman Baba noted that the report will produce indicators to verify the reduced number of out-of-school children and improve their literacy rates.
He said that the survey would ensure that steps were taken to ensure that every school-age child in Nigeria is allowed to go to school and be the best they can be.
The Secretary to the Niger state government, Ahmed Matane, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Economic Affairs, Alhaji Baba Wachiko applauded NPC for the survey, saying that it would aid in providing national planning, particularly in the education sector.
He said that the report will be a guide to the state government in improving its indices in the coming years.
