Kano announces drop in number of out-of-school-children

By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Kano

Kano government said its out-of-school children Survey Report 2026 revealed a new verified figure of 875,593 out-of-school children across the state.

Kano State Ministry of Education revealed this at a dissemination exercise, held at Covid 19 Hall, Ministry of Education in the capital city on Thursday.

The forum brought key stakeholders in the education sector, including government officials, development partners, donor organisations, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), traditional and community leaders, school administrators and other relevant stakeholders in Kano together.

Presenting the findings of the survey, Kano state Commissioner for Education, Dr. Ali Haruna Abubakar Makoda, said the new figure represents a reduction of 113,641 children, equivalent to 11.5 per cent, compared with the 989,234 out-of-school children recorded in the 2023 UNICEF data.

He described the reduction as encouraging evidence that sustained interventions and investments in the education sector are yielding positive results, while stressing that the remaining number of out-of-school-children underscores the need for renewed and coordinated efforts.

According to the Commissioner, previous figures were largely estimates derived from national samples and other sources, whereas the 2026 out-of-school-children figure is based on a rigorous state-wide survey, providing verified and disaggregated data by Local Government Areas, age and gender.

He explained that the new data would provide a credible baseline for evidence-based educational planning, policy formulation, resource allocation and the design of targeted interventions to enroll, retain and support children who remain outside the formal education system.

Dr. Makoda noted that the progress recorded so far, was supported by the sustained commitment of the Kano state government under the leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, particularly through increased investment in education, expansion, rehabilitation and construction of schools and classrooms, provision of teaching and learning materials, free uniform distribution and enrolment drives.

He also highlighted the strengthening of education data and information management systems, as well as sustained collaboration with UNICEF and other development partners, as important components of the state’s efforts to address the out-of-school children challenge.

The Commissioner formally presented the out-of-school-children Survey Report 2026, urging stakeholders to use the findings to develop practical and sustainable solutions tailored to the specific needs of communities and Local Government Areas.

Makoda stated that, “although the reduction is encouraging, the fact that 875,593 children remain out of school reminds us that the work is far from over.

“With accurate data, sustained investment, strong partnerships and political will, the challenge can be significantly reduced.”

He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening the use of reliable data and evidence in educational planning, monitoring and resource allocation across Kano state, adding that the dissemination of the Kano state out-of-school children Survey Report 2026, therefore, “marks a significant step towards strengthening collaboration among stakeholders and accelerating concerted efforts to ensure that every child in Kano state has access to education.”

He then called on parents, traditional and religious leaders, communities, development partners, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and other stakeholders to intensity their support for government efforts by encouraging families to enrol and keep their children in school.

Goodwill messages were delivered by representatives of donor partners, development organisations and CSOs, who commended Kano state government for undertaking the state-wide survey and emphasised the importance of using reliable data to guide interventions aimed at improving access to quality and inclusive education.