Encomium
-15 of the 10.5 million out of school
children explain their predicaments
The United Nation (UN) stated in a report that, 57 million children are out of school globally, but Nigeria dominated with the highest number of out of school children in the world. 10.5 million children in Nigeria are out of school. So, Nigeria accounts for 20 percent out of school children in the world.
All educated children have a reason to dream and aspire for a better future which they desire. They have hope and dream of these things because they knew education can make it happen. On the other hand, what will be the hope of the 10.5 million children who are not educated? Some of them really aspire to be in classroom to study, but help isn’t coming. They become helpless and ignorant about the value of being educated.
Sokoto state is said to have the highest number of children who are out of school. Majority of them from the rural areas do not have access to basic education which is essential for their future. Those in the urban centres have advantages to education compared to children living in rural areas, as they have easy access to education and other life changing facilities.
Despite the effort of the government to make education free and conducive for children, many families cannot afford the associated cost of sending their children to school as the distance to the nearest school is a major hindrance, payment of fees, writing materials, uniforms, textbooks and others can’t be afforded by many parents.
In a chat with some young children who were seen roaming the street during school hours, they revealed to ENCOMIUM Weekly their pains and reasons why they were not in school. Meanwhile, some of the children have the dream.
CHIDINMA EZEFILI (14) – I live with my parents, I stopped schooling last year (2015) all because my dad couldn’t afford my school fees. I have been home idle. Although I don’t wish to go back to school, possibly my parents will take me back to school one day, but it’s not just my wish.
SHAYO OMOLABAKE (12) – My parents are poor petty traders, I am always beaten and driven away for school fees when I was still in school. I left school at JSS 1 just because we could not afford my N8,000 school fees. It is my wish to be a university graduate, but that will only happen if God wants.
CHINOYE EZEFILE (14) – I was in JSS 2 before I stopped going to school. My school fees was increased from the amount it used to be with N7,000 extra. My parents tried to cope with the increase for a while, later they stopped me from going. Saying, the fee is taking too much of their income.
FEYIKEMI OLOKO (15) – My family brought me to Lagos to work as an house help, with the promise that the madam I will be working with will take care of my education, but nothing of such. Instead, she maltreated me like I’m nobody. Later I left her place and now I’m helping one of my aunt to sell bread somewhere in Agege. Even if I get back to school, I doubt if I will be able to cope.
DELE ADEOTI (14) – The attention is focused on the rich while the poor are being neglected. The government should help the helpless, I love to go to school. In fact, when I was in JSS 2 before I stopped, I was the best student in my class, but the unexpected happen that was when I lost my mom in 2014. She used to be my mentor and hope. Now I have stopped schooling. I just keep praying for help that one day God will shine his light on me.
KENNETH MADUEKE (13) – I know education is the best legacy but it will only take grace for the helpless and poor to be educated. I really love to go to school, but no help from anyone. I lost my dad long time ago, my only hope is my mom and I believe she’s doing her best for me with the hope that one day, she will take me back to school.
LEKAN ADEWALE (16) – I attended primary school in Abeokuta, Ogun State. It was a public school then, after I got to Lagos, I have been hustling for survival because I don’t know anyone here. I only came to Lagos with a friend. We are both working as a vulcanizer. I have taken my time to learn vulcanizing, I think I have forgotten about education.
KELECHI OGONNA (12) – I’m still schooling but it’s more or less like I’m not. I have to hawk vegetable every morning before heading to school. Most times I get to school very late and this has really affected my performance in class. I have repeated same class two times all because I wasn’t punctual in class. I live with my dad, he’s a petty trader, I have to do the hawking every morning to help bring money home to eat.
FLORENCE OLUTAYO (13) – I was in JSS 1 before my mom fell sick. It was very serious that she could not walk nor talk. I don’t know the nature of the sickness, though her friends and family member come around to cater for her. There was no money to spend on my education. All has been spent on my mom’s sickness. This was why I stopped school with the hope that one day all will be well and my mom will be okay.
FUNMI OMONIYI (14) – I stopped schooling for barbing. My dad stopped my schooling all because we could not afford the fee and he bought clipper for me to start barbing. I’m currently a barber, I was in JSS 3 before I left school. I don’t really think my dad will ever support the idea of going back to school, but I just wish an angel comes from above to convince him.
SAMSON AYELA (16) – I hate to disclose what’s happening to me why I stopped scholing. I have had a lot of bad experience in my life which not going to school is one of the experience. I so much have passion for education, there was a time I want to beg the principal of my school to allow me get back to school for free, but he objected. No one is there to pay my fee, I live my life on my own. All I believe in my life is soon or later all will be well with me.
MICHAEL OLADOYIN (12) – I don’t like to go to school, I was in Basic 4 before I stopped. I didn’t stop schooling all by myself, my dad supported the idea when I told him I’m no longer have interest in schooling. My dad is a mechanic, he owns a workshop somewhere in Obawole. So, all I do this days is to help him out at his workshop and I think I’m doing fine so far. I don’t have the motive of schooling again.
SHEDIAT AYINLA (14) – Basic education are not affordable, as my parents can’t afford the fee and my mom doesn’t support the idea of public school because she said public schools corrupted her educational background and she doesn’t want such for me. I am not in school for now, I was a JSS 2 student before I was sent away for school fee. I just can’t wait to get back to school. Also, I want the government to remember the less privilege, they should provide the best education for us without having to bother about anything.
MOBOLAJI AKANJI (17) – I have stopped schooling since 2012, I stopped just because of the plenty fees and daily transport. I was in public school, we don’t pay much but the need to pay for uniform, food and transport is what prompted the decision by my parents to stop me from going to school. There was as time I thought of sending myself back to school, but it is not easy. Even if I should go back to school today, I don’t think I can cope with the system because I left four years ago, and that’s a long time ago. I think I have missed a lot if I should decide to go back.
ALAUSA SAMUEL – My dad is a carpenter, we are trying to survive with the little he’s earning. I didn’t know why he stopped me from going to school but I guess it’s the school fee. He can no longer afford paying my school fees. He stopped me from going to school and collected a computer school training form for me. I have been doing computer training all this while.
