Governors Declare Learning Crisis in Nigeria, Call for Urgent Overhaul of Basic Education
Amid mounting concerns over Nigeria’s deteriorating education standards, the 36 State Governors, under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and NewGlobe, have sounded the alarm over a nationwide foundational learning crisis.
The declaration came during a high-level workshop held in Abuja on Thursday, focused on “Foundational Learning and Out-of-School Children.” Participants included state policymakers, education experts, and stakeholders from both the public and private sectors.
In his address, NGF Chairman and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, described the state of education in Nigeria as dire, noting that foundational learning—comprising basic literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional skills—remains grossly inadequate among children in primary schools across the country.
“Enrolment does not equal learning,” he warned in a speech delivered on his behalf by NGF Education Advisor, Leo The Great. “Millions of children may be in classrooms, but too many are not acquiring the skills needed to succeed.”
Governor AbdulRazaq disclosed that recent data reveals a staggering 66% of school-age children in Nigeria are either out of school or learning far below their grade level.
He attributed the crisis to underfunding, outdated teacher training, inadequate learning materials, and poor monitoring systems at the state level.
“Our education sector is underfunded, undervalued, and underperforming,” he said, calling for stronger collaboration between state and non-state actors to reform the system.
UBEC Executive Secretary, Dr. Aisha Garba, echoed similar concerns. Represented by Rasaq Akinyemi, Deputy Secretary (Technical), she described the state of basic education as “a national emergency,” saying that decades of neglect, coupled with political and systemic obstacles, have hampered access and quality.
“Today’s event is more than a policy meeting. It’s a call to action,” she said. “We must go beyond discussions and implement inclusive and innovative solutions that leave no child behind.”
Garba highlighted that with support from the World Bank and international partners, several states are already piloting community-based learning programs to improve literacy and numeracy outcomes.
NewGlobe’s Vice President for Policy and Partnerships, Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, took the conversation further, describing the situation as not just an access crisis, but a full-blown learning crisis.
“Even Primary 6 students in some states can’t read or solve basic math problems,” she said. “This isn’t just unfortunate; it’s a systemic failure. Children are attending school but are not learning.”
She warned that children who fail to acquire basic reading skills by age 10 are four times more likely to drop out of school, increasing their risk of poverty, unemployment, and social vulnerability.
Stakeholders at the workshop called for a coordinated national response that prioritizes foundational education as the bedrock of national development.
In conclusion, the NGF pledged to drive evidence-based reforms, provide sustained funding, and support state-led initiatives aimed at reversing the learning decline and addressing Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis.
