By; SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri
The UNICEF Chief of Maiduguri Field Office to Borno State, Phuong T. Nguyen, at the commemoration of the 2024 International Day
of Education (IDE) held at the El Kanemi Hall of the University of
Maiduguri, Borno State on
Wednesday January 24, 2024, said this year’s International Day of Education with the theme,” Learning for Lasting Peace”, is being commemorated across the world.
She added that, “Education is a global resource for learning and the acquisition of relevant skills for opportunities in today’s world. Education promotes wellbeing. It is a catalyst for peace.”
The UNICEF Chief also said that more than half of all displaced (IDPs) children in the North East of Nigeria are out of school, while less than 40% of primary and secondary schools in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states (BAY) have teachers with low level of teaching qualifications or without qualified teaching staff resulting in ineffective and inefficient learning of children are the foundation level.
She further observed that for many children, the right to education has still not translated into the right to learn, hence the learning crises and other challenges that we are all trying to address.
“In North East Nigeria and indeed communities affected by conflict across the world, education is a platform for the delivery of inclusive learning and psychosocial support. For children in armed conflict situations, education is a unique lifeline. It is a driver of peace and security.
“In collaboration with the Government humanitarian partners and donors such as Education Cannot Wait (ECW). We have made huge strides in the provision of quality, inclusive education for children affected by conflict.
“More girls and children living with disabilities are enrolling in school through regular enrolment campaigns and the provision of conducive learning environment with sanitation facilities across the North East region.
“We are leveraging evidence from other contexts and collaborating with others to expand the frontiers of quality and inclusive education to children from minority ethnic groups.
” Learning materials in the Kanuri and Hausa languages have been produced so that children can learn in their mother tongue and at their own pace, before transiting to learning in the English Language.
“Every International Day of Education affords us the opportunity to look at how far we have come, we cannot lose sight of the huge gaps that still exist in reaching the most disadvantaged children in rural communities with quality and inclusive education,” Nguyen said.
She however, added that, more than half of all displaced children in North East Nigeria are out of school and less than 40% of schools in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states have teachers level of teaching qualifications.
“From Gaza to Ukraine, Sudan to Nigeria, the 2024 theme, Learning for Lasting Peace, is a call to action for everyone working with children affected by conflict to model education as a catalyst for peace and security.
“Stakeholders, from government to humanitarian partners, must increase education financing. We must make sizable and sustainable investment in teachers’ recruitment and training; school infrastructure and security, including fortification of school infrastructure against climate change disruptions.
“This programme to commemorate the 2024 International Day of Education. Since 2018, January 24 UNICEF has been leveraged to recognize the transformative power of education for individuals, communities and global peace,” Nguyen added
She charged education stakeholders, both public and private to redouble their efforts with innovative solutions even as the context of the operating environment is changing, assuring that UNICEF will continue to work with the Government, donors and other partners to raise the bar of education for girls and boys affected by conflict and give them a
future.
Nguyen also urged the school children to continue to do their best at school and imbibe the values that quality education
proffers,” saying,” Children, you are here today as learners, but you are also leaders. I cannot wait to see you at the top”.
Earlier, the Executive Director Unique Care and Support Foundation, Mr. Benjamin John in his welcome address said education is critical and a catalyst for societal development full of challenges that require commitment and dedication from all the stakeholders while appreciating all for attending the celebration.
He disclosed that the event will witness series of activities such as paper presentation, panel presentation , school quiz competition among three selected schools, poem presentation by students , prizes and awards presentation
Six organizations, Borno State Government (BOSG), University of Maiduguri, (Unimaid), CASFOD, CATAI, UNICEF and Nigerian Education in Emergency (NEE) jointly organized and participated in the commiseration activities to mark the 2024 international Day for education held on Wednesday at El Kanemi Hall of University of Maiduguri.
Forty three primary and secondary schools from five local government areas of Borno state, namely, MMC, Jere, Mafa, Kaga, and Konduga LGAs participated attended the ceremony with 16 schools from Jere LGA, 15 schools from MMC, four schools from Konduga LGA, 5 schools from Kaga LGA and 3 schools from Mafa LGA.
Guest Speaker at the occasion, Hon. Musa Inuwa Kubo, a former Commissioner if Education and former Speaker, BOSHA in his paper presentation charges governments and NGOs to redouble their efforts in other areas especially, in the extreme northern part of the state while appreciating the humanitarian support of all NGOs on education in most parts of the State and region affected by the crisis
He also dwelt on the need for school children to imbibe the habit of commitment and dedication to learning at all levels and concentrate more in learning as future generations and leaders.
He urged government to intervention in the rebuilding and development of school buildings and basic infrastructures as well as adequate and qualified teaching staff particularly at the foundation level by improving on the learning environment for both the teachers and school children .
Inuwa Kubo also expunged on the historical perspectives of education, challenges surrounding education before, during and after colonization era as issues against societal needs and demands for integration of both eastern and western education right from the beginning.
