Basic Education: Nigeria May Not Achieve Global Target By 2030-UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says Nigeria may not achieve the global agenda of universal inclusive and equitable quality basic education for all school-age children by 2030 if the current very low public investment in the education sector remains the same.
A Communication Specialist at UNICEF field office, Muntaka Muntaka, disclosed at a media dialogue on girls’ education held on Wednesday in Katsina, that Students Learning Outcomes Assessment in six states in 2021 revealed that the people’s proficiency in literacy was higher in only Enugu State (603.4) against a benchmark of 500.
It was, however, lower in the remaining five states of Kano (488.77), Zamfara (443.38), Kwara (493.56), and the rest.
On the other hand, only two states have higher scores of pupils’ proficiency in numeracy, Enugu (599.46) and Kwara (565.28) against the benchmark of 500.
While other remaining states have lower pupil’s proficiency in numeracy, Kano (463.14), Zamfara (437.04) and Katsina (476.7).
For Nigeria to address the challenge, he said the Government must demonstrate strong will, as well as create substantial innovative fiscal space.
Also, it called for policy reforms, so as to strengthen educational planning and coordination among various actors at all levels.
Among others, the Media Dialogue on Girls’ Education called for a review of existing policies and laws, with the objective to establish a strong accountability framework among key actors at the Federal and State levels.