In Nigeria, school is mandatory for nine years, from the ages of 6 to 15. While the school enrollment rate of 93 percent is higher than in neighboring countries, only around half of children who should be attending school are actually doing so. Despite a significant decrease in the education budget from 12.2 percent of gross domestic product in 1985 to 4.6 percent in 2003, public schools are no longer able to guarantee basic reading, writing, and arithmetic skills. As a result, there has been a surge in the number of private educational institutions, particularly in Lagos and Abuja, as the middle class seeks better quality education for their children.
However, both public and private schools, including universities, are in a state of disrepair. Teachers are often demotivated due to low salaries, and frequent strikes lead to classes being cancelled. This situation is alarming, as it leaves children without access to quality education and limits their opportunities to succeed in life.
