Gombe State Government Expresses Concern Over Rising Number of Out-of-School Children
This statistic is part of a broader national concern where three out of four children attending school struggle with basic literacy and arithmetic skills.
Binye-lum 
The Gombe State Government has expressed alarm over the increasing number of out-of-school children, revealing that approximately one in three children in the state are not attending school. This statistic is part of a broader national concern where three out of four children attending school struggle with basic literacy and arithmetic skills.
Dr. Aishatu Maigari, the State Commissioner for Education, shared these concerns during a one-day stakeholders' engagement on Foundational Literacy Numeracy (FLN). The event was organized by the Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
A recent Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) highlights that only 25% of Nigerian children in primary grades can read or solve simple math problems, with many challenges concentrated in Northern Nigeria.
Dr. Maigari emphasized that UNICEF's involvement aims to tackle what she described as a "learning crisis" by improving educational outcomes. She stressed the need to address the disparities faced by children from rural and economically disadvantaged backgrounds to ensure equitable education.
UNICEF's Abdulrahman Ibrahim Ado called for a multi-sectoral approach to improve education, highlighting the need for better teacher training, school management, and learning materials. He underscored the importance of continuous teacher development and effective teaching methodologies to enhance student learning.
The engagement also featured presentations by state officials, including the Chairmen of the House of Assembly Committees on Education and Appropriation, focusing on scaling up educational programs to improve learning outcomes for all school-aged children in Gombe State.
