Ehis Agbon, Kaduna, Nigeria – June 18, 2025
Kaduna State is making significant progress in tackling the long-standing issue of out-of-school children, with government figures indicating a reduction of 300,000 children in just six months. The state, which previously had an estimated 680,000 children out of school, has launched a multi-pronged approach to reintegrate young learners into the education system.
Kaduna Reduces Out-of-School Children by 300,000 in Six Months Amid Renewed Education Push
At the heart of this turnaround is the Reaching Out-of-School Children (ROOSC) Project, a four-year initiative launched in April 2024. The project, a collaboration between the Kaduna State Government, Save the Children International (SCI), and UNICEF, is designed to bring over 100,000 children back to school. So far, it has already enrolled thousands and provided critical support structures to sustain the effort.
To accommodate the growing number of returning students, the government has constructed 102 new schools, with plans to build 112 more across the state. Additionally, 405 teachers have been trained to improve the quality of education and support children’s transition back into learning environments.
Another core component of the campaign is the Catch-Up Programme—a nine-month remedial education scheme that offers foundational literacy, numeracy, and life skills. This initiative targets children who have been out of school for extended periods, preparing them to either continue in mainstream education or take up vocational training.
Despite the progress, challenges remain. Poverty is a major barrier. Community leaders, including Alhaji Nura Ibrahim, the Village Head of Unguwan Shanu, have urged the state to tackle poverty head-on, describing it as the root cause of educational exclusion.
Insecurity also poses a threat to education access in some parts of the state. Governor Uba Sani acknowledged the security challenges and called for coordinated efforts to ensure safe learning environments for children.
In a show of commitment, the Kaduna State Government has allocated dedicated funding for the ROOSC project in its annual budget, aiming to institutionalize the initiative as a long-term solution. Discussions are ongoing with development partners to implement livelihood support programs for families, ensuring that children are not forced to remain at home due to economic hardship.
Education stakeholders across Nigeria have lauded Kaduna’s proactive strategy, urging other states to adopt similar models to address the nationwide out-of-school children crisis.
