The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has raised concerns over the exclusion of approximately 10 million Nigerian children from early childhood care, development, and education (ECCDE). This situation may be contributing to poor learning outcomes among children nationwide. According to UBEC, only 35.6 per cent of Nigerian children aged between 36 and 59 months currently attend any form of early childhood education. This leaves a significant number of young children without access to ECCDE.
The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Aisha Garba, addressed participants at a three-day capacity-building workshop in Abuja, highlighting the importance of ECCDE. Garba, represented by Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical) Rasaq Olajuwon Akinyemi, emphasized that developmental delays among young children compound the situation. An analysis of the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey revealed that about 46 per cent of children aged 24 to 59 months were developmentally off track. This has significant implications for their future educational prospects.
The consequences of inadequate early childhood education become more pronounced as children progress through the school system. According to Garba, about 70 per cent of Nigerian 10-year-olds could not read and understand a simple text. This is a worrying trend that may have long-term effects on the country's educational outcomes. Furthermore, only about 2.4 million of the 5.9 million children who enter primary school each year remain in the education system at the end of junior secondary school.
Garba stressed that early childhood development should be treated as an integrated national priority rather than a stand-alone education programme. She made this call while advocating for increased access to ECCDE. The UBEC boss also emphasized the need for state actors to utilize the ECCDE Minimum Standards, Implementation Guidelines, and UNICEF Parental and Community Engagement documents to improve ECCDE.
The capacity-building workshop aimed to equip state actors with the necessary skills to implement ECCDE effectively. Participants were trained on the utilization of ECCDE Minimum Standards, Implementation Guidelines, and UNICEF Parental and Community Engagement documents. This initiative is expected to enhance the quality of ECCDE and increase access to early childhood education.
The UBEC report highlights the urgent need for Nigeria to prioritize early childhood education. With 10 million children outside ECCDE, the country risks perpetuating a cycle of poor learning outcomes. The commission's warning underscores the importance of addressing this issue to ensure that Nigerian children receive a solid foundation for future educational success.
The Nigerian government must take concrete steps to address the issue of out-of-school children and inadequate ECCDE. By doing so, the country can improve learning outcomes and increase the chances of its children succeeding in the education system. The UBEC report serves as a wake-up call for stakeholders to work together to address this pressing issue.
Key points
- 10 million Nigerian children are excluded from early childhood care, development, and education (ECCDE).
- Only 35.6 per cent of Nigerian children aged 36 to 59 months attend any form of early childhood education.
- Inadequate early childhood education may contribute to poor learning outcomes, with 70 per cent of Nigerian 10-year-olds unable to read and understand a simple text.
