Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Plateau State Government has raised serious concerns over the growing number of children outside the formal education system, revealing that 23.2 per cent of school-age children in the state are currently out of school, a crisis that has prompted the government to consider stricter measures, including possible sanctions for parents who fail to enrol their children. The Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Kachollom Gang, disclosed the alarming statistics on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, during an advocacy campaign on the activities of School-Based Management Committees organised by the Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board in Jos. According to the commissioner, Plateau's out-of-school rate stands at 23.2 per cent, school enrolment is estimated at about 65 per cent, and the dropout rate exceeds 28 per cent, painting a grim picture of the state's education sector.
Commissioner Gang noted that Governor Caleb Mutfwang's administration has invested significantly in the education sector but acknowledged that more effort is required to reverse the increasing dropout rate. "The governor has done everything possible to encourage education in the state, and I believe he will continue to do more because he is deeply concerned about the increasing rate of school dropouts," she said. However, she lamented the decline in educational standards, recalling that Plateau was once regarded as the leading state in education in Northern Nigeria but had since fallen to 33rd position among the 36 states when the current administration took office. "Gone are the days when Plateau State was the leading state in education in Northern Nigeria. When we came into office, Plateau was ranked 33rd among the 36 states. We have made some progress, but we are determined to restore Plateau to its rightful position," she added.
The commissioner disclosed that the Ministry of Education is exploring tougher policies aimed at compelling school attendance, including sanctions for parents who keep their children out of school. "As a ministry, we are looking at introducing stringent measures that will encourage or compel parents to ensure their children are in school. We will continue to work with traditional rulers, religious leaders and development partners to make this a reality," she said. The government's consideration of sanctions reflects growing frustration over the persistent crisis, which has been exacerbated by insecurity across the country and the state. "The issue of out-of-school children has become a menace. Insecurity across the country has contributed significantly to the growing number of children who are not in school, and Plateau is no exception," Gang said.
The Executive Chairman of PLSUBEB, Mr. Sunday Amuna, emphasised that tackling the out-of-school children crisis required the collective efforts of government, communities, traditional rulers, religious leaders and civil society organisations. He warned that children who remained outside the classroom were vulnerable to criminal activities and other social vices. "Any child of school-going age who is not in school will certainly find something else to do, and such activities may not be beneficial to society. Communities must therefore take ownership of this challenge," he said. Amuna urged communities to discourage child hawking, illegal mining and other activities that deprived children of education, adding that parents who deliberately kept their children out of school should be held accountable.
The UBEC State Coordinator, Mrs. Esther Tells, described School-Based Management Committees as a critical link between schools, government and host communities. She noted that Nigeria accounts for one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children globally, with about 18.5 million children outside the school system. According to her, Plateau's out-of-school rate stands at 23.2 per cent, while school enrolment is estimated at about 65 per cent and the dropout rate exceeds 28 per cent. The state government, in partnership with the Universal Basic Education Commission, has provided funds under its Annual Basic Education Action Plan for the training and retraining of School-Based Management Committee members to strengthen grassroots mobilisation.
The Nigerian Air Force has also stepped in to support education in the state, commissioning three blocks of six fully furnished classrooms at Central Pilot Primary School in Langtang North Local Government Area on July 13, 2026, as part of efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children in Plateau State. The intervention forms part of the NAF's broader effort to build the critical human capital required for Nigeria's rapid economic development. However, findings from UNICEF's Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey reveal that 18 per cent of primary school-age children in Plateau State are out of school, while Zamfara State records 61 per cent—the highest proportion in northern Nigeria—highlighting the stark disparities in school enrolment across the region.
For Plateau State, the road to recovery will require not only increased investment and stricter enforcement but also a concerted effort to address the root causes of the crisis—insecurity, poverty, and the socio-economic pressures that keep children out of classrooms. The government's consideration of sanctions for parents signals a determination to take tough decisions, but as Commissioner Gang acknowledged, more work lies ahead. With 23.2 per cent of school-age children still out of school and a dropout rate exceeding 28 per cent, the stakes could not be higher. The future of an entire generation hangs in the balance.
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