The Kaduna State Government has unveiled its 2025/2026 Annual School Census and Out-of-School Children Mapping Reports, a comprehensive data-driven initiative designed to strengthen evidence-based planning and accelerate the return of 187,719 children to classrooms across the state.
Deputy Governor Hadiza Balarabe, speaking at the launch in Kaduna on Friday, stated that the reports would inform government decisions on school construction, teacher deployment, and community-specific interventions. She disclosed that the data identifies 187,719 children as currently out of school, with poverty cited by over 91 per cent of affected households as the primary barrier to enrolment.
Mrs Balarabe noted that education commands 25 per cent of the 2026 state budget, adding that sustained investments, free basic education, and school feeding programmes have already reduced the out-of-school population from over 500,000.
Country Director of Save the Children International, Duncan Harvey, described the mapping exercise as a landmark study that replaces conjecture with household-level data across all 23 local government areas. He said the findings pinpoint the characteristics and locations of out-of-school children, enabling precise interventions and supporting the project’s goal of returning 100,000 children to school.
Mr Harvey called on government, donors, communities, and the media to sustain collaboration and ensure the data translates into tangible action for vulnerable children.
Commissioner for Planning and Budget, Mukhtar Ahmad, said the exercise underscores Kaduna’s commitment to evidence-based planning and accountability in education. Commissioner for Education, Professor Abubakar Sambo, added that the findings would guide sector planning, teacher deployment, and infrastructure development, while preparations have commenced for the 2026/2027 census. He also revealed that Kaduna has been requested to assist Nasarawa, Niger, and Zamfara states in replicating similar data exercises.
Statistician General of the Kaduna State Bureau of Statistics, Dr Baba Alhaji, confirmed that the state deployed a digitised Education Management Information System for the census to enhance data accuracy and reliability across all local government areas, thereby strengthening policy formulation, budgeting, and monitoring of education outcomes.
Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education, Dr Mohammad Idris, advocated for greater teacher accountability and practical reforms, including the removal of school uniform requirements for impoverished families, to expand access and improve learning outcomes.
Representing the Statistician General of the Federation, Hassan Harun, praised the reports for providing credible data for policy formulation and resource allocation, urging stakeholders to sustain annual education data collection and strengthen collaboration nationwide.
Chairman of the Kaduna State House of Assembly Committee on Education, Mahamoud Ismaila, pledged continued legislative support for inclusive education policies and commended the government’s investments while urging sustained efforts to keep children enrolled.
Reaching Out of School Children (ROOSC) Project Coordinator, Ezra Angai, reported that the project has already returned over 25,000 children to learning and remains on track to enrol 100,000 within four years, with ongoing expansion of school infrastructure, teacher training, and community engagement supported by development partners.
UNICEF Chief of Field Office in Kaduna, Gerida Birukila, urged government and partners to translate the digitised data into actionable policies, prioritise children with disabilities, and ensure the reports inform budgets and innovative learning solutions.
