Don expresses concern as number of out-of-school children reaches 10.2 million

A distinguished law professor, Osifunke Ekundayo, has revealed that Nigeria now ranks first in the world for the number of out-of-school children, with 10.2 million children of primary school age currently not enrolled.

Ekundayo made this known during her inaugural lecture titled “Speaking up for the numerous voiceless children shut out of school in Nigeria: An endless odyssey,” where she expressed deep concern over the growing number of out-of-school children and criticized the government for its lack of responsiveness.

She stated, “It is estimated that one in every five out-of-school children around the globe is in Nigeria. In addition, only 61 per cent of children between the ages of six and 11 attend primary school regularly.”

The professor pointed to several contributing factors, including poverty, a worsening teacher-pupil ratio, insufficient teacher training, deteriorating school facilities, cultural and religious practices, internal conflicts, inadequate funding, corruption, and a lack of openness and responsibility.

To address the issue, Ekundayo advocated for changes to the 1999 Constitution to clearly define access to education for children as a basic human right.

She explained, “It has been acknowledged that the right to education is essential for people to be aware of the other rights they are entitled to, to exercise and empower them.”

She added, “States are the principal duty bearers and are under an obligation to fulfil, respect, and protect all human rights for all individuals within their jurisdiction.”

Ekundayo also noted, “The right to education may be described as an empowerment right, as it empowers an individual to take charge of his life. It is also a multiplier right, as the degree of its effective implementation impacts the enjoyment of other human rights.”