By Sabiu Abdullahi
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed concern over the low literacy levels in Kano State, revealing that only 9.6% of primary school pupils in the state have adequate reading skills, while 11.2% demonstrate basic numeracy abilities.
This was disclosed by Rahama Mohammed, the Chief of UNICEF’s Kano Field Office, during a news conference in Kano to mark the 2025 International Day for Education.
Citing the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), Mr. Mohammed highlighted that nearly one million children—about 32% of Kano’s primary school-age population—are not enrolled in formal education.
“This is not just a statistic; it represents the dreams and potential futures of nearly one million children being cut short. Urgent action is required to address this crisis,” he said.
Efforts to Tackle the CrisisTo address the alarming situation, UNICEF has launched several initiatives, including integrating Quranic schools into the formal education system. Under this program, over 290 Quranic teachers and proprietors in Kano and Jigawa states have been trained to combine religious and basic education for children.
Mr. Mohammed added that UNICEF has improved infrastructure in 33 schools across Kano and Jigawa by constructing and rehabilitating Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities, benefiting 39,432 children.
“UNICEF has also supported the training of 1,109 teachers in critical areas such as Reading and Numeracy Activities (RANA), Early Childhood Development, and non-formal Quranic school education through the ‘HASKE’ initiative,” he said.
In addition, over 630,249 teaching and learning materials have been distributed to schools, focusing on enhancing early childhood and primary education.
Collaborations and Future PlansUNICEF acknowledged its partners, including the European Union and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), for their contributions to the Education and Youth Empowerment (EYE) Programme and the CRIBS project in Kano and Jigawa.
“We remain committed to collaborating with the governments of Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa to achieve better basic education outcomes. Education is the cornerstone of development, and we must not let these children down,” Mr. Mohammed stated.
The conference served as a call to action for stakeholders to work collectively in addressing the education crisis threatening the future of Kano’s children.