UNICEF Report: One-Third of Kano School Children Lacking in Literacy and Numeracy Skills

According to a recent report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), one-third of school children in Kano State lack basic literacy and numeracy skills.

This alarming statistic highlights the urgent need for educational reforms and interventions to improve the quality of education in the region.

Kano, among other states in the North-West, has the highest number of out-of-school children.

This is a major contributing factor to the low literacy and numeracy levels among school children in the state.

The lack of access to education and the poor quality of teaching in many schools have left many children without the basic skills they need to succeed in life.

The report also revealed that the situation is particularly dire for girls, who are often denied the opportunity to attend school due to cultural and economic factors.

This further exacerbates the problem, as girls who do not receive an education are more likely to face a lifetime of poverty and limited opportunities.

In response to this crisis, the European Union (EU) and UNICEF have announced a new education and empowerment program in Nigeria.

The program aims to enroll and skill 1.5 million children, youths, and adolescents across three states, including Kano.

The program will focus on strengthening education governance and learning, expanding safe and inclusive learning environments, and providing quality, continuous learning and enhanced competencies.

It will also target children between the ages of 7 and 14, who will receive training in literacy and numeracy skills to make them competitive and marketable in the workforce.

The UNICEF report on the lack of basic literacy and numeracy skills among Kano school children is a wake-up call for the government and other stakeholders to take urgent action to improve the quality of education in the region.

The EU and UNICEF’s new education and empowerment program is a step in the right direction, but much more needs to be done to ensure that all children in Kano have access to quality education and the skills they need to succeed in life.