The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says 70 per cent of children in schools are not learning, a development which must be addressed by stakeholders.
The Communication Specialist, UNICEF, Mr Geoffrey Njoku, made this known at a Two-Day Media Dialogue on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as Child Rights, in Kano.
Dr. Njoku said no country could focus on its SDGs in isolation of the children’s rights, saying that stakeholders must begin to focus on SDGs as Child rights.
According to him, one aspect of education which is foundational literacy and numeracy must be given attention to.
” Since 2010, we have pushed to change the narrative of the 10.5 million out-of-school children but even at that 70% of those in schools are not learning.
” We need to include these 70% in school who not learning to the 10.5million out-of-school children so that proper attention will be given to them.
” So it is high time we focus on learning by revamping the education system through teachers training, changing the curriculum and changing the narrative through quality education,” he said.
Also speaking , Mr Rahama Farah, Chief of UNICEF Field Office Kano, said that UNICEF and the Federal Government had been collaborating to improve the outcome of education but much is needed to be done.
Farah, who was represented by Alhaji Issakha Diop, Officer-in-Charge, UNICEF Field Office, Kano, said that improving learning outcome was key to achieving basic learning.
“According to the World Bank, Nigeria is experiencing learning poverty in which 70 per cent of 10-year-olds cannot understand a simple sentence or perform basic numeracy task.
“To address the challenge, achieving basic learning outcomes at the foundational level of education is key.
” It is clear that to improve learning outcomes in Nigeria, achieving basic foundational ski