UNICEF Says 70% Of School Children Are Not Learning

The United Nations Children’s Fund has stated that 70 per cent of school children are not learning, calling for swift intervention by stakeholders.

Speaking in Kano on Friday at a two-day Media Dialogue on Sustainable Development Goals, the Communication Specialist, UNICEF, Mr Geoffrey Njoku started the importance of children’s rights to every nation.

According to him, one aspect of education which is foundational literacy and numeracy must be given attention.

“Since 2010, we have pushed to change the narrative of the 10.5 million out-of-school children but even at that 70% of those in schools are not learning.

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“We need to include this 70% in school who not learning to the 10.5million out-of-school children so that proper attention will be given to them.

“So it is high time we focused on learning by revamping the education system through teachers’ training, changing the curriculum and changing the narrative through quality education,” he said.

In the same vein, Dr Chidi Ezinwa, Department of Mass Communication, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, said SDGs won’t be possible until children’s rights are respected.

Ezinwa added that poverty and gender inequality must be bridged as they were essential ingredients to the denial of children’s rights.

“One of the goals says no poverty, but when there is poverty, several rights are taken from children.

“Children who are not going to school, not receiving good health care are linked to poverty.

“So, SDGs and Child Rights Convention which serve as a legal instrument to achieving the goals are universal and intend to leave no one behind,” he said.