UNICEF Raises Alarm Over State of Basic Education in Jigawa, Kano, and Katsina

By Ali R. Ali Jigawa

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has expressed deep concern over the alarming state of basic education in Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina states. Speaking at a press briefing at BON Hotels Kano to commemorate the International Day of Education 2025, Rahama Rihood Mohammed Farah, Chief of UNICEF Kano Field Office, highlighted the dire situation.

According to Farah, the region has the second-highest out-of-school rates in Nigeria, with a staggering 10.2 million children nationwide not attending primary school. Of these, 16% are from Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina states. In Kano state alone, 989,234 children are out of school, while Jigawa and Katsina have 337,861 and 536,112 out-of-school children, respectively.

Farah emphasized that even among enrolled children, learning outcomes are poor. Citing the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2021, she noted that only 1 in 4 Nigerian children aged 7-14 can read and understand a simple sentence or solve basic arithmetic. In Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina, foundational learning rates are a dismal 11% or lower.

To address these challenges, UNICEF has been working closely with the governments of Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina states to implement various initiatives. 

These initiatives includes; Cash transfers to support vulnerable families in accessing education, enrollment drives in partnership with communities and traditional leaders, provision of school grants to improve access to quality education, integrated Quranic Schools to provide alternative learning pathways, teacher training and support to enhance teaching methodologies, supply of learning materials to ensure students have necessary tools, and school infrastructure development to create conducive learning environments

Farah called on the governments of Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina to take urgent action to address the crisis in basic education.

He then urged to increase funding for basic education, tackle access challenges, expand school infrastructure, recruit qualified teachers, and address the impact of climate change on learning

As the world marks the International Day of Education 2025, UNICEF is sounding the alarm over the alarming state of basic education in Kano, Jigawa, and Katsina states. It is imperative that urgent action is taken to address the crisis and ensure that every child has access to quality education.