The Kaduna State Government has announced a significant reduction in the number of out-of-school children in the state, with the figure declining from over 500,000 in previous years to 187,719.
The figures were unveiled during the dissemination of the 2025/2026 Annual School Census and the Out-of-School Children Mapping Reports held in Kaduna.
Representing Governor Uba Sani at the event, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, said the availability of credible data would enable government and stakeholders to make informed decisions and implement evidence-based policies to ensure that every child has access to quality education.
She noted that behind every statistic is a child whose future depends on access to education, stressing that education remains the foundation for dignity, equity, prosperity, and peace.
According to the report, nearly 65 percent of the state's out-of-school children are between the ages of six and eleven, indicating that interventions at the primary school entry level are critical.
It also revealed that boys constitute 57 percent of the total number of out-of-school children, while more than 91 percent of households surveyed identified poverty as the major reason children remain outside the classroom.
The report further showed that the Kaduna North Senatorial Zone accounts for 51 percent of all out-of-school children in the state, with Kubau Local Government Area recording the highest number.
Dr. Balarabe disclosed that the state government has allocated 25 percent of the 2026 budget to the education sector as part of efforts to improve access to quality education. She said ongoing interventions include the construction of 65 secondary schools, rehabilitation of over 2,300 classrooms, and the construction of more than 100 additional schools in partnership with the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development.
She added that the government has sustained the annual recruitment of 2,000 primary school teachers and extended the years of service for experienced educators to strengthen the education workforce.
Other interventions include free basic education, reduced tuition fees in state-owned tertiary institutions, expansion of the school feeding programme to cover about 40 percent of pupils in public primary schools, and the distribution of textbooks, school uniforms, and assistive devices for children with disabilities.
The Deputy Governor also announced that Kaduna has become the first state in Nigeria to integrate 99 percent of its education data into the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS), describing the achievement as a major step toward strengthening education planning and accountability.
Dr. Balarabe called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, development partners, parents, and other stakeholders to support the government's efforts, stressing that returning every out-of-school child to the classroom requires collective commitment and shared responsibility.
Speaking at the event, the Coordinator of the Reaching Out of School Children (ROOSC) Project, Mr. Ezra Angai, said the current figure of 187,719 out-of-school children should serve as a call to action rather than a reason for celebration.
He disclosed that the four-year ROOSC project aims to return 100,000 children to formal education and learning centres, noting that more than 25,000 children have already been successfully reintegrated into schools.
According to him, the project focuses on expanding access to education through the construction of 102 new schools, with 16 currently under construction, and the renovation of 152 existing schools.
He added that over 4,000 teachers are being trained to improve classroom instruction and learning outcomes, while School-Based Management Committees are being established and strengthened in collaboration with UNICEF to ensure community ownership and sustainability.
The initiative is being supported by the Islamic Development Bank, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the Global Partnership for Education, Education Above All, Save the Children International, and UNICEF.