18 articles
This volume is a special edition based on the 6th annual conference organized by School of Education, Federal College of Education (Technical) Bichi. The theme of the conference was 'Out of School Children in Nigeria'.
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.
The problem of Out-of-School children is assuming an alarming dimension in Nigeria as millions of children are excluded from formal school due to social-economical, geographical, and cultural factors. Public libraries, as places that exist to provide free and equitable access to information and learning resources, have the potential to be important contributors toward addressing the educational challenges that vulnerable young people face. This paper investigates the services, programmes and facilities that public libraries are offering to out-of-school children in Nigeria. It examines how public libraries can act as non-formal education spaces providing capacity for inform and learn, digital literacies and support for academic work. The research pointed out several key issues behind Nigeria's educational challenges, including gender inequality, economic factors, children out of school, regional imbalances, lack of funding, and certain government policies. For the kids who aren't in school, the main hurdles are poverty, economic barriers, social and cultural expectations, issues related to conflict and safety, gender inequality, and poor educational facilities. The study also showcases some successful interventions and best practices from libraries that have introduced creative programs to reach out to out-of-school children. Our findings suggest that while public libraries in Nigeria aren't fully leveraged to address the educational crisis, they could be vital for reducing educational gaps if policymakers take the right steps, use resources wisely, and launch community outreach efforts. The research underscores the need for increased funding for staff training and library infrastructure, along with ideas for enhancing the future role of public libraries through closer collaboration with government agencies, NGOs, and businesses. Ultimately, this study highlights the importance of reevaluating how public libraries can contribute in countries like Nigeria, working alongside various stakeholders to support all students in achieving sustainable education goals, no matter their enrolment status.
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.