From:Femi Oyelola in Kaduna
Under Governor Uba Sani’s leadership and the ambitious SUSTAIN Agenda, Kaduna State has made a historic commitment to human capital development by allocating 25 percent of the 2026 budget—approximately ₦246.48 billion—to the education sector, marking the largest allocation to any ministry in the state’s history.
The governor’s vision acknowledges that an educated population is essential for harnessing the state’s youthful demographic (53.5% of residents are aged 0-17) and for achieving the much-discussed demographic dividend.
However, despite this unprecedented funding, hundreds of thousands of children continue to be out of school. The 2022 school census reported 768,000 out-of-school children, with 31.1% of primary-age and 31.9% of junior-secondary-age children not enrolled.
While recent interventions have decreased this number by about 300,000 by late 2024, significant gaps still exist—particularly for girls, rural families, and marginalized groups—due to factors such as poverty, insecurity, cultural practices, and inadequate infrastructure.
The data present a concerning picture: the 2023/2024 annual school census indicates an overall enrollment rate of 49%, with a junior secondary transition rate of 58% (57% for males and 59% for females) and a senior secondary transition rate of 90% (88% for males and 93% for females).
Completion rates fall short, achieving only 79% at the primary level, 50% at junior secondary, and just 40% at senior secondary. In comparison, dropout rates are significant: 21% at the primary level, 50% at junior secondary, and 60% at senior secondary. Key factors contributing to these dropouts include:
1. Special learners – children with learning difficulties who lack proper support.
2. Teenage pregnancy and early marriage – cultural norms that force girls out of school.
3. Poverty and economic constraints – families that cannot afford uniforms, textbooks, transportation, and other incidental costs, despite free tuition.
4. Insecurity and kidnapping – a pervasive climate of fear discouraging children from attending school.
5. Cultural and social norms – expectations for children to work on farms or in family businesses.
6. Lack of adult support and guidance – insufficient role models or mentors to motivate children to continue their education.
Kaduna’s human capital development index stands at 0.545. While the state’s GDP ranks 11th nationally, it has the highest unemployment rate among youths aged 15-25 (2.7% for males and 3.3% for females), and the lowest rate among those aged 55-64 (2.1%).
Currently, the state operates three Basic Adult Training Centres (Soba, Rigachikun, and Samaru Kataf) and one functional vocational training centre. Experts argue that more centres are needed across all 23 local government areas to accommodate dropouts and exceptional learners.
In response, advocates urge the Kaduna State government to:
-Expand vocational and technical training** to every local government area, providing pathways for out-of-school youths and learners with special needs.
-Educate parents, traditional, and religious leaders on the long-term benefits of education, encouraging both moral and financial support for children.
– Strengthen the Ministry of Education’s Second-Chance, Agile, and ROOSC programmes to further reduce the number of out-of-school children.
– Partner with the Ministry of Health to integrate family-planning services in schools to tackle teenage pregnancy and early marriage.
-Enhance the curriculum by incorporating climate change education, structured entrepreneurship, and advanced technology courses to better prepare youths for the workforce.
The Kaduna State Government, through the Ministry of Education and allied ministries, is called upon to translate this historic budget into tangible, lasting outcomes—ensuring that no child is left behind and that the state’s youth become the driving force behind sustainable development.
