75% of Nigerian Children can’t read or solve a basic mathematics problem- UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said 75 per cent of Nigerian children aged between seven and 14 years cannot read a simple sentence or solve a basic mathematics problem.Information Guide Nigeria

This was revealed by UNICEF Country Representative, Ms Christian Munduate, in a statement, yesterday, to mark this year’s International Day of Education (IDE).

Munduate said: “I join the global call to ‘invest in people, prioritise education’ and urge Nigeria to deliver on the commitments made by President Muhammadu Buhari at the UN Secretary General’s Transforming Education Summit in September 2022 to end the global learning crisis.

“In Nigeria, 75 per cent of children aged seven to 14 years cannot read a simple sentence or solve a basic math problem. For children to be able to read to learn, they must be able to learn to read in the first three years of schooling.”JAMB portal

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Munduate noted that UNICEF is committed to support to the Federal Government to transform education and prevent the loss of hard-fought gains in getting children into school, particularly poor, rural children and girls, and ensuring that they remain in school, complete their education and achieve their full potential.NYSC portal

She added that UNICEF together with partners will continue to support federal and state governments to: reduce the number of out-of-school children by providing safe learning environments in formal and non-formal settings; engage communities on the importance of education and provide cash to households and schools.

According to THE GUARDIAN, she said: “As Nigeria’s presidential elections draw near, on behalf of UNICEF and the children in Nigeria, I call on all presidential candidates to include investments in education as a top priority in their manifestoes.”JAMB Result