ABUJA — Community organisations have renewed calls for stronger interventions to bring out-of-school children into education, saying several factors continue to prevent children from attending school regularly. They identified poverty, insecurity, distance to schools and inadequate facilities among the challenges affecting access in different communities. Nigeria has a large population of children and young people, making education access a major national development issue. Children who remain outside school may face limited opportunities later in life, particularly when they lack basic literacy and numeracy skills. Community organisations said interventions need to address both access and the reasons children leave school. Household poverty can make education difficult even when tuition is not charged. Families may struggle to provide uniforms, books, transport and other necessities. Children may also be expected to assist with household or economic activities. Social-support programmes can help reduce some of these pressures. Security is another factor in areas affected by violence or criminal activity. Parents may be reluctant to send children to school when they fear attacks or abductions. Protecting schools and improving security around vulnerable communities is therefore essential. Distance can also be a barrier, particularly in rural areas. Children who have to travel long distances may be less likely to attend consistently. Building schools closer to communities and providing safe transportation can improve access. The quality of education matters as much as physical access. Families may be less motivated to keep children in school if classrooms are overcrowded, teachers are unavailable or learning materials are inadequate. Improving school quality can therefore support retention. Girls may face additional barriers in some communities, including early marriage, household responsibilities and concerns about safety. Programmes designed to keep girls in school need to consider these social and economic factors. Community leaders can help by encouraging parents to support education and discouraging practices that prevent children from attending. Flexible learning programmes can also help children who have fallen behind. Remedial classes and accelerated education can provide pathways back into formal schooling. Such programmes need qualified teachers and appropriate materials to be effective. Accurate data is important for identifying children who are out of school. Local authorities can work with schools and community organisations to determine where children are located and why they are not attending. This information can guide targeted interventions rather than broad programmes that may not address local conditions. Government agencies, charities and community organisations all have roles to play. However, programmes need coordination to prevent duplication and ensure that resources reach the communities most in need. Monitoring should also determine whether children who return to school remain enrolled. Bringing children into classrooms is only the first step. They need safe learning environments and adequate support to stay and succeed. Education can provide long-term benefits for individuals and communities by improving skills, employment prospects and civic participation. Addressing Nigeria's out-of-school population will therefore require sustained commitment rather than short-term campaigns. Community groups said continued investment in schools, social protection, security and teacher development would be necessary to make progress. Ensuring that children can enter, remain in and benefit from education should remain a national priority.