By Chiemeka Ugwowo, Abuja
NUJ FCT Urges FG to Measure Education Reforms Through Classroom Impact, Not Policies Alone
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, Comrade Grace Ike, has called on the Federal Government and education stakeholders to adopt an evidence-based approach in assessing ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s education sector.
Ike made the call during the 2026 Annual Education Summit organised by the Education Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ECAN) in Abuja, where stakeholders gathered to evaluate the achievements, challenges and impact of the Tinubu administration’s education policies in the last three years.
With the theme, “Three Years of the Tinubu Administration: Assessing Reforms, Achievements and Challenges in Nigeria’s Education Sector,” the summit brought together policymakers, journalists, education experts and development partners to discuss the future of education in the country.
The NUJ FCT Chairman said the success of any education reform should be determined by its impact on classrooms, learners and teachers rather than government announcements and policy documents.
She stressed that education remains the backbone of national progress, urging stakeholders to examine whether recent reforms have improved learning outcomes, expanded access, strengthened teacher welfare and reduced the gap between urban and rural schools.
While acknowledging government efforts aimed at repositioning the sector, Ike identified persistent challenges including inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, teacher-related issues, industrial disputes, rising cases of out-of-school children, learning difficulties and the mismatch between education and labour market needs.
She noted that transforming Nigeria’s education system requires patience, consistency and genuine political commitment, adding that no administration can reverse decades of structural challenges overnight.
“Reform is a process, and sustained commitment is what will determine lasting success,” she said.
Ike also challenged journalists to take a more active role in driving accountability in the education sector by moving beyond event reporting to producing investigative and solution-driven stories.
She urged education reporters to amplify the voices of students, teachers, parents and school administrators while holding relevant authorities accountable for their promises and interventions.
According to her, education must be viewed as more than classroom learning, as it plays a crucial role in national productivity, innovation, economic growth and social stability.
She called on participants at the summit to develop practical recommendations capable of producing measurable improvements rather than allowing discussions to end with speeches and resolutions.
FG Moves to Establish Accurate Data on Out-of-School Children
Meanwhile, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has announced plans by the Federal Government to conduct a nationwide household survey to determine the actual number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
The minister disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Education would work with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to generate reliable and up-to-date data that would guide government interventions and policy decisions.
Alausa said current estimates, which place the number of out-of-school children between 15 million and 20 million, may no longer reflect the true situation across the country.
He explained that the survey would help identify the locations, needs and circumstances of affected children, enabling government to design more effective strategies for school enrolment and retention.
The minister revealed that more than one million children had been brought back into classrooms within the last two years but emphasised that accurate data was necessary to measure progress and address remaining gaps.
He said the administration of President Bola Tinubu remains committed to evidence-driven policymaking, noting that credible information would strengthen accountability and allow citizens to properly assess government performance.
Alausa further urged journalists to embrace investigative reporting by tracking education programmes, identifying challenges and using verified facts to promote transparency and improvement in the sector.
