By; SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri
United Children Education Funds (UNICEF) in collaboration with the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has supported education sector Borno State emergency programmes through Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria under a 4-year education programme for Borno and Yobe states – Education in Emergency Programmes (PLANE-EIE) for 280,500 pupils and students (boys and girls) to benefit as well as 7,200 facilitating teachers of and junior secondary schools
The project is also aimed at enhancing access to safe, inclusive and high quality learning process, methodology and environment for both the pupils, students and teachers in reaching out to even boys and girls who are with disabilities and affected by conflict (vulnerable).
The Senior Education Officer, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, British Commission Abuja, Mr. Ian AtterField disclosed this while briefing journalists in Maiduguri at Muhammad Aji Goni Laminu (Modu Makaranta) Mega Primary and Junior Secondary school Muna Garage while on assessment/inspection tour of the education programmes UNICEF is coordinating and implementing for 1,035 government officials, 2,235 members of School and Center Based Management Committees (SCBMCs).
According to him, the programmes have significantly in the last three years of its implementation, contributed tremendously to the development and progress of the education sector recovery in the conflict affected areas, stressing that, it underscores a comprehensive approach to addressing the educational challenges posed by the insurgency, specifically, emphasizung on inclusivity and high quality learning for the vulnerable children
UNICEF, Borno State Education Officer, Mustapha Shehu said the implementation process of the education emergency programmes also include facilitating learning among the school children with a view to taste tracking their learning process and ensuring high quality and standard learning through various methodologies and processes including learner teaching the learners or other teachers of children between 6-17 years with emphasis and focus on three LGAs in Borno State, namely Maiduguri, Jere and Konduga.
While in Yobe State, the LGAs include, Damaturu, Nguru and Potiskum with particular focus on supporting the recovery of the education system in Maiduguri, Jere and Konduga in Borno State and Damaturu, Nguru and Potiskum in Yobe State for a total of 45 per cent boys and 55 per cent girls using 7,200 educators or facilitators including 1,035 government officials.
Mohammed Zubairu, Education Officer, Norwegian Refugees Council (NRC), at Chad Basin Primary and Junior Secondary School Muna Garage area, also said that the project is successfully advancing towards its goals, focusing on improving teaching and learning approaches for conflict affected children.
He added that the six teachers or trainers facilitating 320 pupils and students in the afternoon session, are also currently on track with substantial advancements in foundational learning skills and creation of a secure learning environment through inclusive , crisis responsive planning , resulting in a significant reduction in the percentage of pupils and students at beginners level in both numeracy and literacy.
Abel Ajaalla, Community Mobilization Officer, Restoration of Hope Initiative (ROHI) at Muna IDPs Camp Primary and Junior Secondary school also emphasized that with the life skills and entrepreneurship, many girls have been empowered to overcome academic and social challenges , enhance immediate learning, complete primary school and transition to junior secondary school where over 32,000 girls are expected from the programme to developed crucial skills in analysing psychosocial and interpersonal skills.
According to him, these skills not only help in their continued learning but empower them with resilience and adaptability towards enabling them to thrive academically in the long run, stressing that, the project has contributed to improving a sense of safety and protection among the conflict affected learners.
The Headmaster of Modu Makaranta, Barrister Ngare Alhahi Bukar further explained that with the series of trainings carried out by UNICEF in the last three years in th school for both pupils of primary 4,5 and 6 alongside the trainings organized for the 41 teachers out of 53 teachers that the school had before
He noted that however, Quality and Programme Assessment (DPQA) indexes have shown that the project contributed in improving a sense of safety and protection among the conflict affected learners as 95% reported feeling safe within the school environment while recommending the need for refine procedures, guidelines and data collection instruments pertinent to evaluating the issues in ground towards improving the assessment of child safety and security of the over 3, 996 pupils and students of the school
Headmaster of Muna IDPs Camp Primary and Junior Secondary school , Mr. Fali Shuaibu also said the school has everything but only lack in source of water which need repairs for being rounded, electricity, renovation of classrooms and furnitures as well as instructional materials and teachers to improve in learning and skills training of th pupils and students.
He noted that all the LGAs have developed conflict responsive and gender inclusive education sector plans to move forwards with the plans to continue to focus on ensuring disability-imclusivity in the programmes where UNICEF is expected to leverage on its ongoing partnership with UNESCO to help the selected or targeted LGAs develop disability -inclusive sector plans.
While assuring that the overall tangible improvements in educational outcome for conflicted affected children have been achieved in areas highlighted for improvement in present valuable opportunities for refining methodologies, strengthening data collection mechanisms and further expanding inclusivity within the educational planning.
