Save the Children, UNICEF Back Kaduna’s Drive to Return 100,000 Out-of-School Children to Classrooms

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Save the Children International and UNICEF have pledged sustained support to the Kaduna State Government to return 100,000 out-of-school children to school, saying the newly released data from the 2026 mapping and school census provides a clear roadmap for targeted action.

The commitment was made on Tuesday at the Data Dissemination Event for the 2026 Out-of-School Children Mapping and 2025/2026 Annual School Census Reports*, held in Kaduna under the Reaching Out-of-School Children, ROOSC, Project.

Mr. Duncan Harvey, Country Director of Save the Children Nigeria, described the mapping exercise as a landmark achievement that gives policymakers an evidence-based plan for the first time.

“This study is important not just for Kaduna but can serve as a model for other Nigerian states tackling the same issue,” Harvey said.

He explained that the report provides detailed information on where out-of-school children live across the state, including their age, gender, and disability status. “These findings will help the government and partners target their efforts more efficiently and identify children who need urgent help,” he added.

According to Harvey, the household mapping covered 360,319 households across Kaduna’s 23 local government areas, with a focus on communities with the highest concentration of out-of-school children.

The data revealed that 60.2% of the children identified had never enrolled in school, while 39.8% had dropped out*. The study also identified major barriers including poverty, shortage of teachers, poor facilities, insecurity, disability challenges, child labor, and harmful social norms.

Harvey stressed that addressing the crisis requires more than enrollment. “Solving this crisis goes beyond just enrolling children; it’s also about helping them stay in school, learn well, and successfully move through the education system,” he said.

He reaffirmed Save the Children’s commitment to work closely with the Kaduna State Government and other partners to achieve the ROOSC target of returning *100,000 out-of-school children* to the education system.

On progress so far, Harvey said 7,481 learners are enrolled in accelerated basic education programs, and 13,703 children aged six to nine have been integrated into formal schools from catch-up centers.

He added that 3,312 learners are enrolled in Qur’anic and Tsangaya education centers, while 53,013 learner kits and assistive devices have been distributed to support vulnerable and disabled children.

Harvey urged the state government to translate the mapping results into detailed, costed, and time-bound action plans at both local government and ward levels, backed by adequate funding.

He also called on donors to provide flexible funding to expand the interventions and appealed to communities to help identify, enroll, and retain out-of-school children.

He further tasked the media with reporting the findings accurately and monitoring the progress of interventions beyond the headlines.

Dr. Gerida Birukila, UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office, also reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to Kaduna, with special focus on children with disabilities to ensure no child is left behind.

Birukila described the digital annual school census as a major milestone that will enable policymakers to make faster and better-informed decisions.

“With reliable data now available, all stakeholders have a duty to act, and there can be no more excuses for inaction regarding the education of vulnerable children,” she said.

She assured that UNICEF will stand with Kaduna “every step of the way”. She encouraged the adoption of innovative approaches such as digital learning solutions to reach children affected by displacement, climate disasters, and other barriers to education.