Kano Has Only 875,593 Out-of-School Children, Says Education Ministry
The Kano State Ministry of Education has disclosed that 875,593 children are currently out of school across the state’s 44 local government areas.
The figure was contained in the Kano State Out-of-School Children Survey Report 2026, which was presented to stakeholders at the COVID-19 Hall of the Ministry of Education in Kano.
The report was unveiled at an event attended by government officials, development partners, donor organisations, civil society organisations, traditional and community leaders, school administrators and other stakeholders in the education sector.
According to the Commissioner for Education, Gwani Dr Ali Haruna Abubakar Makoda, the latest figure represents a reduction of 113,641 children, or 11.5 per cent, from the 989,234 out-of-school children recorded in Kano in 2023 based on UNICEF data.
Makoda described the reduction as encouraging evidence that sustained interventions and increased investment in the education sector were producing positive results.
He, however, stressed that the number of children still outside the formal education system remained a major concern and required renewed, coordinated and sustained efforts from government and other stakeholders.
The commissioner explained that previous figures were largely estimates derived from national samples and other sources, whereas the 2026 figure was based on a statewide survey that provided verified and disaggregated data according to local government area, age and gender.
He said the new data would serve as a credible baseline for evidence-based educational planning, policy formulation, resource allocation and the development of targeted interventions aimed at enrolling, retaining and supporting children who remain out of school.
Makoda attributed the progress recorded so far to the sustained commitment of the Kano State Government under 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 campaigns.
He also identified improvements in education data and information management systems, alongside collaboration with UNICEF and other development partners, as key components of the state’s efforts to address the out-of-school children challenge.
While formally presenting the survey report, the commissioner urged stakeholders to use its findings to develop practical and sustainable solutions tailored to the specific needs of communities and local government areas.
Makoda said the reduction in the number of out-of-school children was encouraging but noted that the presence of 875,593 children outside the school system showed that much more needed to be done.
“With accurate data, sustained investment, strong partnerships and political will, the challenge can be significantly reduced,” he said.
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.
The commissioner also called on parents, traditional and religious leaders, community leaders, development partners and civil society organisations to intensify their support for government efforts by encouraging families to enrol their children in school and ensure that they remain there.
The dissemination of the Kano State Out-of-School Children Survey Report 2026, he said, marked an important step towards strengthening collaboration among stakeholders and accelerating efforts to ensure that more children across the state have access to quality education.