The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called for increased investment in foundational and pre-primary education across national and sub-national budgets, urging governments to make early childhood development a central priority in planning and implementation efforts.
The call was made in Enugu during a press briefing to commemorate the 2025 Day of the African Child. Speaking on behalf of Juliet Chiluwe, Chief of the UNICEF Enugu Field Office, Communication Officer Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe emphasized that this year’s commemoration is a call to action for governments to place children’s education at the heart of their budgetary decisions and development policies.
“Learning is a fundamental right of every child, regardless of background or circumstance,” she stated.
UNICEF’s message for the 2025 Day of the African Child urges African Union member states to recommit to prioritizing education, recommending that at least 20 percent of total annual public expenditure be allocated to the sector. Of this, a minimum of 10 percent should be directed specifically to early childhood education.
With this year’s theme — “Planning and Budgeting for Children’s Rights: Progress Since 2010” — UNICEF highlighted the need to reflect on gains made over the past 15 years and assess how well African governments have integrated children’s rights into budget and planning systems.
UNICEF’s key recommendations include stronger investment in early childhood education due to its vital role in cognitive and social development, enhanced financial commitments to foundational learning, and the development of supportive policy frameworks that improve educational outcomes, especially at the pre-primary level.
The agency also advocated for transparency and accountability in budget processes to ensure that education funds are used efficiently. It encouraged governments to diversify funding sources, tapping into international aid, private sector contributions, and public-private partnerships to widen access to quality education.
Another crucial recommendation is increased investment in teachers, with a focus on recruitment, retention, professional development, and improved teaching conditions to boost learning outcomes.
“We urge all stakeholders—governments, policymakers, civil society, and even children themselves—to engage actively in the budgeting process and hold decision-makers accountable,” Chiluwe added.
She stressed that addressing the learning crisis in Africa demands more than just financial resources—it requires inclusive governance, long-term partnerships, and a shared commitment to ensuring that every African child receives a quality education from the earliest years.
The Day of the African Child is observed annually to honour the memory of the students killed during the 1976 Soweto Uprising in South Africa. It serves as a platform to spotlight the ongoing challenges faced by children across the continent and to advocate for the protection of their rights, especially the right to education.
