As the world commemorates the Day of the African Child, UNICEF has called government to recommit to making education a budget priority, with a specific focus on early childhood development.
Briefing Journalists in Enugu on Monday, Chief of UNICEF Enugu Field Office, Mrs Juliet Chiluwe who spoke through the Communications Officer, Dr. Mrs. Ijeoma Onuoha Ogwe emphasized the importance of prioritizing pre-primary and foundational learning for every child in Africa.
She described education as a fundamental right that should be accessible to all without bias or discrimination.
UNICEF urged African Union member states to allocate at least 20% of their annual spending to education, with a specific focus on early learning, and to dedicate at least 10% of education budgets to primary education.
According to UNICEF, “this year’s theme, “Planning and Budgeting for Children’s Rights,” serves as a reminder to evaluate the progress made in prioritizing children’s rights in national plans and budgets over the past 15 years.
“While strides have been made, more needs to be done to ensure that every child in Africa has access to quality education,” she said
She said “UNICEF’s message for the Day of the African Child 2025 is a call to action for African governments to prioritize and invest in children’s education, particularly in early childhood development, with a focus on effective budgeting and resource allocation.
UNICEF thereby advocates for increased investments in teachers, including funding for recruitment, retention, and professional development.
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