UNICEF Partners UNIMAID to Reduce Out-of-School Children in Borno
AREWA AGENDA – The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has partnered the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) to deploy 200 graduates as part of its efforts to tackle the problem of out of school children in Borno State.
UNICEF Education Manager, Borno Field Office, Nasser Kaddoura disclosed this during a five-day training for the newly recruited teachers in the state.
The recruited graduates who were drawn from UNIMAID’s Faculty of Education will provide afternoon education services in Borno communities and Qur’anic centres.
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Mr. Nasser said that: “UNICEF and its partners are collaborating to ensure that access to education translates to qualitative learning. This will ensure that children are learning as part of increasing access through non-formal education settings. That is why this partnership will use the right teaching methods to ensure that children receive qualitative basic education after which they can opt for a further educational or vocational pathway.”
“The Ministry of Religious Affairs has shown its commitment by directing Tsangaya centers and Islamiyyah schools to be part of this intervention. The teachers have also indicated their readiness to make a difference. UNICEF is happy that children who were hitherto out-of-school can receive education in their own communities and be equipped for the future.”
The ministry’s spokesperson, Umar Muhammad, who also spoke at the event, said the state government is ready to invest in quality education for children.
“This is an opportunity for our children who cannot read and write to benefit. The state government has already piloted successfully the Teaching at the Right Level (TARL) initiative in formal education settings and is always supportive of efforts at ensuring that all children in the state are learning. This is the beginning, we are hopeful that more teachers from the university will be added to more Tsangaya centres and Islamiyyah schools in the scale up phase,’’ he said.
