Jigawa Launches Accelerated Education Programme for 80,000 Vulnerable Children

UNICEF, the EU and Jigawa State have launched an accelerated education programme targeting 80,000 out-of-school children through 135 learning centres across 10 LGAs.

The programme, tagged Accelerated Basic Education Programme (ABEP) is being funded under the European Union’s Education and Youth Empowerment Programme in Northern Nigeria (EYEPINN), and implemented through 135 learning centres across 10 local councils is aimed at providing learning opportunities for out-of-school children and adolescents across the state.

At least no fever than 80,000 out of school children will establish 135 learning centres and engage 270 facilitators across 10 LGAs, with the objective of expanding access to basic education for marginalised children

The Chief of Field Operations and Emergency, UNICEF, Abuja Office, Ms Judith Lieveilee, noted that the was deliberately designed to provide a second chance to children who have either never attended school or whose education has been interrupted, enabling them to acquire foundational literacy and numeracy skills and subsequently progress to formal education, vocational training or other appropriate learning pathways.

At the flag off of programme, Leveillee, said the initiative represents an important step in the collective effort to ensure that every child, regardless of gender or circumstance, has access to safe, inclusive and relevant education.

Leveillee said education should not be regarded merely as a public service but as a fundamental right and the foundation for every child’s future.

She explained that the ABEP intervention was designed to address major categories of children affected by educational exclusion particularly those who were denied access and those who were delayed access to learning opportunities.

“By tackling these barriers, ABEP ensures that foundational literacy and numeracy skills become the cornerstone of every child’s learning journey,” she said.

According to her, the programme would also strengthen the capacity of teachers and facilitators to improve the quality of learning and ensure better outcomes for participating children.

Leveillee disclosed that the programme is particularly significant in communities where conventional schooling has not adequately reached children because of poverty, social barriers, distance, disability, displacement and other circumstances.

She pointed out that the programme uses an accelerated model through which learners can complete stages of learning and subsequently transition into formal education or skills development.

The state Commissioner for Basic Education, Dr. Lawan Yunusa Danzomo, while taking delivery of the items delivered expressed the appreciation the state government to both UNICEF and EU for the intervention

“The programme provides us with an opportunity to teach children in the under served communities, bring them into structured learning environments, strengthen their foundational learning and where appropriate support their transition into the goal education system

“The flag off across the 10 EU-UNICEF intervention LGEAs demonstrates “our determination to take education directly to the communities where vulnerable and out-of-school children live. The success of ABEP, however, will not depend on government alone. It requires the collective efforts of EU, UNICEF, the state government, LGAs, SAME, community leaders, parents, facilitators, supervisors a d other development partners,” Danzomo noted.

For him, the programme is simply not about enrolling my learners, but about giving children a second opportunity to learn, grow, develop their confidence and build a better future, pledging to ensure that ABEP supervisors and facilitators dedication professionalism and compassion while carrying out their responsibilities” because they’re not merely teaching our children, but they’re also helping to change the direction of their lives.’

While encouraging the 10 benefitting LGAs to provide the necessary support and supervision to ensure that the programme achieved it’s intended objectives, the commissioner called on parents and communities to support the programme by encouraging eligible children to attend the ABEP learning centres regularly.

Danzomo added:”Let us work together to ensure that every ABEP learning centre becomes a place where children feel safe, respected, supported motivated to I’m earn. Let us transform the materials provided into meaningful learning outcomes and let us transform every opportunity created by the ABEP into a pathway towards a brighter future.”

The Kano Field Office of UNICEF, Mr. Shafeeq Ur- Rehman expressed gratitude to EU for providing the required funding especially for the EYEPINN being implemented across the three northern states