The dilemma of kids being unable to have an education is a very serious societal issue. Children who miss out on school often become societal threats as they grow up without proper guidance or opportunity. They quickly realise adulthood means survival of the fittest, forcing them into harsh choices and dangerous life paths.
The painful truth hits hard—they must hustle and struggle constantly before achieving any form of meaningful societal identity. What hurts more is knowing they start life already disadvantaged, with limited options to change their harsh reality.
31% of Nigerians are uneducated. This translates to millions of people when calculated with Nigeria’s population. Who is responsible for this dilemma? The parents who can’t afford the school fees or the government for not providing more educational facilities or free education? The question of blame for out-of-school children in Nigeria involves complex factors, and arguments can be made for both parents and the Nigerian government playing a role in addressing this issue.
PARENTS ARE TO BLAME FOR LACK OF EDUCATION
1. Parental Responsibility: Parents bear the primary responsibility for the education of their children. Consequently, it is imperative that they ensure their children attend school and receive an education that lays the foundation for their future success.
2. Financial Constraints: Despite facing financial challenges, some parents may find it difficult to afford school-related expenses, including uniforms, textbooks, and transportation. Nonetheless, it is contended that parents should prioritise education even within their financial constraints, recognizing its paramount importance.
3. Lack of Awareness: Furthermore, in certain instances, parents may not be fully aware of the critical importance of education or may lack information about available educational opportunities. This lack of awareness can significantly contribute to children being kept out of school, highlighting the need for increased dissemination of information and educational awareness programs.
GOVERNMENT IS TO BLAME
1. Infrastructure and Access: In terms of providing educational opportunities, the government shoulders the responsibility of ensuring adequate infrastructure and facilitating access to quality education for all children. Challenges such as insufficient schools, limited resources, and inadequate transportation can, however, impede children’s access to education.
2. Policy Implementation: Additionally, the government is tasked with implementing and enforcing policies that render education accessible and compulsory. Policy enforcement, implementation, and monitoring significantly determine whether children enter the education system or remain excluded.
Strong enforcement mechanisms ensure compliance, while consistent monitoring quickly identifies gaps in education system access and delivery.
3. Governments implement economic policies and poverty reduction programs that directly influence parents’ ability to afford children’s education.
Targeted poverty alleviation strategies improve household income, enabling families to prioritize schooling and reduce out-of-school children rates.
Integrating education policies with broader socio-economic initiatives strengthens outcomes and supports inclusive access to quality learning opportunities.
In reality, the responsibility for addressing the issue of out-of-school children is shared between parents and the government. Collaborative efforts between governments and parents, supported by communities, NGOs, and international organisations, help ensure educational opportunities for all.
Parents play a vital role by actively ensuring their children regularly attend and participate in formal school education.
Governments must address systemic barriers and implement policies that make education both accessible and compulsory for every child.
Partnerships across sectors create inclusive environments that support universal education and reduce the number of out-of-school children nationwide.
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