UBEC Reports Low Enrollment in Early Childhood Education

The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) reported that only 35.6% of Nigerian children aged 36 to 59 months are enrolled in any form of Early Childhood Care, Development and Education (ECCDE), leaving approximately 10 million children outside the system. Executive Secretary Dr. Aisha Garba, represented by Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical) Rasaq Olajuwon Akinyemi, stated that the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) indicates 46% of children aged 24 to 59 months are developmentally off-track.

Garba linked the low enrollment to a broader learning crisis, noting that 70% of Nigerian 10-year-olds cannot read and understand a simple text. She urged states to include ECCDE in their State Matching Grant Action Plans and announced an extension for submission of these plans to October 5, 2026.

Additionally, she emphasized the need for ECCDE centers to meet minimum standards and called for increased engagement with parents and community leaders to reach children outside conventional classrooms.