Abstract

The paper examined the challenges of out of school children in Nigeria and their implications for counselling. The report jointly released by UNESCO Institute for Statistics and Education for All Global Monitoring Report on the Number of out of School Children in Sub-Saharan Africa (2015) shows that the number of out of school children and young adolescents is on the increase, reaching 124 million in 2013. The report is more demeaning to sub-Saharan Africa, which constitute 50% of the world out of school children. The study attempted a review of the situation in sub-Saharan Africa as well as its implication for Nigeria and school counsellors. The causes of school dropout in our school system are varied which include poverty, ignorance, poor school environment, bullying, school phobia, academic problem among others. The effects of out-of-school children on parents, governments and the society were also highlighted, which include among others, high crime rate, unemployment, poor condition of service, lack of skills and certificates, low self-esteem and poor physical well-being. Based on the conclusion reached, it is therefore recommended that school counsellors, parents, communities and government should take proactive measures to encourage children and school dropouts to return back to the school.

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