Banditry and insurgency hamper schooling in Niger State - UNICEF
The United Nations Children's Education Fund (UNICEF) has blamed the ongoing activities of armed bandits and insurgents in some parts of the country for the reduction in school attendance in some local government areas of the state of Niger such as Kontagora, Mariga, Mashegu, Munya, Rafi and Shiroro local government areas.
The UNICEF Kaduna Field Office Education Officer, Mr. Francis Elisha, said this during a presentation of his activities in Niger State during a dialogue/workshop with the media organized last weekend by UNICEF at the conference room of the Chartwell hotel, in Bauchi, the state capital on the Girls Education Project (GEP3) covered by the third phase of the project education program that started in the state from 2012 to date, by UNICEF.
Munya, Shiroro, Rafi, Mariga, Mashegu and Kontagora were the residents severely tormented by armed banditry and terrorism challenges in Niger State, which UNICEF covered under the third phase of the Project Education for Girls (GEP3).
He, however, highlighted the intervention of UNICEF in Niger State on the GEP3 project in the six communes most affected by the problems of insecurity plaguing the aforementioned local communities in the State.< /p>
According to Francis, “The situation has affected community-level intervention campaigns and the engagement of traditional and religious leaders in School Management Committees (SBCs) who have been key in increasing enrolment. "
Francis said that despite the difficulties, UNICEF has managed to increase enrollment of school-age girls in the state to 250,000 in its 10 years of operation.< /p>
Furthermore, Chief Field Officer in Bauchi, Dr. Tushar Rane, in his opening remarks during the media dialogue, pointed out that the situation with GEP3 has been aggravated by the attacks on the schools which he said “made the teaching and learning environment precarious and discouraged parents and guardians from sending their children/wards, especially girls to school,” he added .
Meanwhile, UNICEF, with financial support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), is implementing Phase 3 of the Girls' Education Project (GEP3), in six states of northern Nigeria including Bauchi, Kano, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto and Zamfara respectively.
The UNICEF Kaduna Field Office Education Officer, Mr. Francis Elisha, said this during a presentation of his activities in Niger State during a dialogue/workshop with the media organized last weekend by UNICEF at the conference room of the Chartwell hotel, in Bauchi, the state capital on the Girls Education Project (GEP3) covered by the third phase of the project education program that started in the state from 2012 to date, by UNICEF.
Munya, Shiroro, Rafi, Mariga, Mashegu and Kontagora were the residents severely tormented by armed banditry and terrorism challenges in Niger State, which UNICEF covered under the third phase of the Project Education for Girls (GEP3).
He, however, highlighted the intervention of UNICEF in Niger State on the GEP3 project in the six communes most affected by the problems of insecurity plaguing the aforementioned local communities in the State.< /p>
According to Francis, “The situation has affected community-level intervention campaigns and the engagement of traditional and religious leaders in School Management Committees (SBCs) who have been key in increasing enrolment. "
Francis said that despite the difficulties, UNICEF has managed to increase enrollment of school-age girls in the state to 250,000 in its 10 years of operation.< /p>
Furthermore, Chief Field Officer in Bauchi, Dr. Tushar Rane, in his opening remarks during the media dialogue, pointed out that the situation with GEP3 has been aggravated by the attacks on the schools which he said “made the teaching and learning environment precarious and discouraged parents and guardians from sending their children/wards, especially girls to school,” he added .
Meanwhile, UNICEF, with financial support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), is implementing Phase 3 of the Girls' Education Project (GEP3), in six states of northern Nigeria including Bauchi, Kano, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto and Zamfara respectively.
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