*Urges Borno, Adamawa, Yobe to increase budgetary allocation
By; Sadiq Abubakar Maiduguri
Over 270,000 primary school children affected by conflict in North Eastern Nigeria have been supported to read and write by the United Nations Education Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with the United Kingdom (UK) Governmwnt.
The UNICEF Education Specialist, Dr. Yusuf Ismail disclosed this on Monday at a press briefing with journalists in Maiduguri, the Borno State Capital.
According to Ismail, UNICEF, in partnership with the State Universal Basic Education Boards in North-East Nigeria, launched the Teaching at the Right Level (TARL) methodology in 537 schools.
He added that Borno State was the first to partner with UNICEF to pilot TARL classes in 12 schools in the year 2018.
“UNICEF is supporting government to deliver and accelerate results for vulnerable children. Quality education is a right of every child and that is why the TARL methodology is bridging a gap not only in North-East Nigeria, but in other parts of the world.
“With the support of the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), we are ensuring that children do not just pass through school, but that they are actually learning.
”The TARL methodology enables them to read and write first in Hausa language and then the English Language. We have success stories with this methodology.
”We are changing the tide and addressing the learning crises where over 70 per cent of 10-year-olds in the country can neither read nor write,’’ said Ismail,” Ismail said.
He however, further urged governments in North-East Nigeria to invest more in education to enable the programme to reach more children, particularly in the rural communities liberated by the security agencies that are accessible.
“There is no doubt that we can do more with the governments support and collaboration. Hence for every child who has the opportunity to learn with the TARL methodology, there are maybe 10 others who do not.
”In 2021, the Kebbi State Government secured federal funds to pilot TARL in 122 schools.
“Therefore, as we commemorate the International Day of Education, we are appealing to the government in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe to increase budgetary allocation that will lead to an improvement in the quality of learning,’’ he said.
