Internal insecurity in Nigeria and the conundrum of out-of-school children

Abstract

Governments worldwide are responsible for ensuring the safety and security of their citizens and providing uninterrupted access to quality education. Unfortunately, the Nigerian government has faced challenges in fulfilling these responsibilities, resulting in a rise in out-of-school children. This study investigates the impact of internal insecurity, including incidents of student kidnapping and attacks on schools by bandits and terrorists, primarily in northern Nigeria, on the educational system. Relying on the bottom-top approach, and designed as a qualitative desk research, utilizing the documentary data collection and analysis methods, the study explores how these security challenges have contributed to the growing rate of out-of-school children and how best to use the bottom-top approach to resolve the identified challenges. The findings reveal that student kidnapping and incessant attacks on schools, coupled with the antecedent school closures, have hindered the accessibility and affordability of basic education, leading to an increase in the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria. Based on the results, the study recommends government prioritization and increased funding for education, as well as providing scholarship support and the deployment of armed education marshals to vulnerable students from security-challenged states.
 
How to cite this article using ASWNet style

Emordi, P. J. and Egbuchulam, P. C. (2023). Internal insecurity in Nigeria and the conundrum of out-of-school children. People centred – The Journal of Development Administration (JDA), 8(2), 49. Social Work and Development Student Conference (SWDSC), 16 June 2023. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jda.v8i2.7

Conference Abstract

Social Work and Development Student Conference (SWDSC), Held on 16 June 2023, Day of the African Child (DAC), Organised by Africa Social Work and Development Network (ASWDN).

Conference Organising Committee: Danzel Rademan, University of the Free State, South Africa (Chairperson); Atuhairwe Collins, Student, Master of Social Work, Makerere University, Uganda (Vice-Chairperson); Never Winnie James Sebit, South Sudan; Bachelor in Social Work, RCSS, India (Secretary); Tatenda Sukulao, Bachelor of Social Work, Midlands State University, Zimbabwe (Vice-Secretary); Norman T. Manyika, Student, Bachelor of Social Work, University of Zimbabwe (Committee member) & Takudzwa Banda, Bachelor of Social Work, University of Zimbabwe (Committee member).

Visit journal website: https://jda.africasocialwork.net