Gombe State has taken a tough new stance in its fight against the high rate of out-of-school children. Beginning with the 2025/2026 academic session, parents and guardians who refuse to send their children to school could face fines or jail terms.
The Legal Backing
The Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Babaji Babadidi, announced the policy during the school enrolment campaign launch in Akko LGA. He cited Section 19(2) of the SUBEB Amendment Law (2021), which makes it a punishable offence for parents to keep children away from school.
First offence → fine or one-month imprisonment.
Repeat offence → stiffer fines or up to two months in jail.
Why This Matters
Gombe currently has over 700,000 out-of-school children, according to Commissioner for Education, Prof. Aishatu Maigari. The North-East accounts for 15% of Nigeria’s 18.2 million out-of-school children, making it a national hotspot for the crisis.
Despite years of offering free education, learning materials, and school support, enrolment figures have remained low. The state now aims to enrol 400,000 pupils this session — and is shifting from incentives to enforcement.
What Government Is Saying
Education is compulsory: Parents must ensure children complete primary, junior, and senior secondary school.
Beyond academics: Schools will also provide vocational and entrepreneurial skills to prepare learners for self-reliance.
Heavy investment: Government has improved facilities, teacher welfare, and school supplies. Now it expects parents to play their part.
Prof. Maigari put it bluntly:
“We cannot fold our arms while our children remain out of school. An educated person can become an employer of labour through skills and entrepreneurship acquired in school.”
Stakeholders’ Reactions
UNICEF’s Chief in Bauchi, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, described the situation as “alarming” and urged parents to take the enrolment campaign seriously.
Traditional leaders, including the Emir of Gona, pledged to mobilise parents and communities.
The campaign launch featured symbolic enrolment of children into different classes, signalling the state’s seriousness.
The Bigger Picture
Nigeria has one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children globally. Gombe’s move reflects a growing shift among states from persuasion and incentives to legal enforcement — in order to tackle a problem that undermines both education and development goals.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.
