FG Launches Policy to Bring 18m Out-of-School Kids to Class

ABUJA — The Federal Government has launched a new National Policy on Alternative Learning Pathways. The policy targets the 18.3 million children and young people across Nigeria who are currently not in school.

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced the policy on Monday. He said the government must create multiple ways for young Nigerians to access learning. Traditional schooling alone cannot solve a problem of this scale.

“We cannot wait for children to come to school. We must take learning to them. This policy creates flexible pathways that meet children where they are,” Alausa said at the launch in Abuja.

The policy covers several non-traditional learning channels. These include mobile learning centres, community-based education, vocational training, and digital learning tools. It also targets adults who never completed their basic education.

Why It Matters Now

The launch comes days after the abduction of 87 students in Borno and Oyo. Bamidele and other officials have pointed to rising insecurity as a key factor pushing children out of school in many parts of Nigeria.

However, insecurity is not the only cause. Poverty, child labour, distance to school, and cultural barriers also keep millions of Nigerian children away from learning. The new policy aims to address all of these factors.

In addition, Nigeria already has a large TVET program that has enrolled over 200,000 young people since 2024. The new alternative learning policy is designed to work alongside that program, not replace it.

Funding and Implementation

The Federal Government said it will partner with international organisations, state governments, and civil society groups to fund and implement the policy. The World Bank and UNICEF have already expressed interest in supporting the effort.

State education commissioners attended Monday’s launch. Several confirmed that their states will develop implementation plans within the next 60 days. Alausa said the federal government will monitor progress through a new digital tracking system.

Experts welcomed the policy but urged the government to act fast. Education advocate Ngozi Obiakor said policies without proper funding and follow-through will not make a dent in the numbers. “We need to see classrooms built, teachers trained, and children actually in learning spaces,” Obiakor said.