Silent Education Crisis: Majority of Nigerian Children Lack Basic Reading Skills by Age 10
The Federal Government has raised concerns over Nigeria’s worsening learning crisis, revealing that about three out of every four children at the basic education level cannot read and understand age-appropriate texts by the age of 10.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, disclosed this in Abuja during a Federal Ministry of Education and Universal Basic Education Commission roundtable on digital resources for improving learning outcomes.
Alausa described the situation as unacceptable, stressing that Nigeria must urgently adopt technology-driven education to improve literacy levels. He said digital learning was no longer optional, especially as the country continues to face challenges such as teacher shortages, insecurity and limited learning resources.
He highlighted government-backed platforms, including the Nigeria Learning Passport, Inspire, Ignite, EduRevamp, E-Learn, Greenfield Learning Management System and virtual classroom solutions, as tools designed to support classroom teaching.
According to the minister, the Nigeria Learning Passport currently has about 2.3 million users, a figure he said remains low compared with the estimated 67 million learners across primary and secondary schools.
He urged state governments, school leaders and teachers to increase the use of available digital platforms, noting that failure to maximise the resources would result in wasted investments.
The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Aisha Garba, also emphasised that technology was essential for building an inclusive and resilient education system. She said the commission had introduced digital learning centres, smart boards and digital monitoring systems across schools.
Education experts have linked Nigeria’s learning crisis to inadequate funding, overcrowded classrooms, poverty, insecurity and prolonged school disruptions. The government says expanding digital education remains a key step toward improving foundational literacy and numeracy.
