PARENTAL RE-ORIENTING AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL CHILDREN: A DESCRIPTIVE SURVEY IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to discuss re-orienting families for a stronger future to reduce the menace of out-of-school children. Nigeria has the largest number of out-of-school children in the world. It is estimated that one in everyfive out-of-school children around the globe is in Nigeria. Even though basic education is legally free and compulsory in the country, about 18.3 million children aged 5 to 14 years are out of school. About 50 percent of these children live in the northern region, known to be severely affected by insurgency. Education is a fundamental human right, a critical driver for economic advancement and a powerful tool for poverty reduction. Hence, no child of school age should be denied access to quality and equitable education, and an opportunity to acquire skillsthat guarantee future employability and long-term earning. The paper identified causes of out-of-school children in Nigeria to include; poor funding of education, corruption, banditry, kidnapping, poor implementation of the Child Rights Act, insecurity problems, lack of political will to address the challenges, high rate of poverty, and high fertility rate. Through a comprehensive review of literature, policy analysis, and empirical evidence, this paper provides insights into the implications and potential strategies for the Out of School Children By parents working together with stakeholders, every child in Nigeria will have access to quality education and a brighter future, securing a more prosperous and stable future for our Nation. One of the long-term goals of this paper is to provide a lasting solution to the problem of out-of-school Children, reversing the alarming trend of out-of-school children in Nigeria and unlock a brighter future for generations to come.