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From Dooshima Hir, Makurdi
A Non Governmental Organization, (NGO), Save the Children International (SCI) has commissioned a newly constructed a Temporary Learning Centre and donated learning materials to pupils of RCM Primary School, Jato-Aka, and Injorsha, in Kwande Local Government Area, LGA of Benue State.
The gesture, which spread joy among children who were hitherto out of school and their parents, was part of activities marking the graduation ceremony of learners under the Accelerated Learning Programme (ALP).
The event which held at RCM Primary School, Jato-Aka, convened government officials, development partners, school authorities, parents, traditional and beneficiaries.
Speaking on the project, the Education Officer of Save the Children International for Benue State, Mr Simon Vihi said the Accelerated Learning Programme is part of the GPE-funded intervention implemented across five states of Benue, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Taraba and Adamawa.
He said, “We are gathered here to officially commemorate the graduation of Accelerated Learning Program graduands. Out-of-school children were mapped and enrolled in a non-formal program where they were prepared for a period of six months, sometimes nine, depending on their ability to cope. The essence is to prepare and mainstream them back into the formal schools.”
Vihi praised the commitment and involvement of the state government through the Education commissioner, noting that she Chairs the State Program Technical Committee inaugurated by the Federal Ministry of Education.
While handing over learning kits to newly enrolled pupils, Vihi said “We procured learning kits so that once they start school, they will be able to learn effectively. We have distributed the kits and issued certificates. They are now fully certified to continue in the regular school setting.”
Vihi confirmed that the Temporary Learning Centre commissioned at the event was constructed by Save the Children International saying “It is new. We built it from scratch. It is called a temporary learning space. It is not like the regular classrooms because the project does not have the budget to construct normal classroom blocks, but it serves the purpose and can later be converted to a permanent structure. We are implementing in about 14 schools within Kwande alone.”
Earlier, the State Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, Dr Mrs Margaret Adamu, who chairs the state’s technical committee of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) project, performed the commissioning.
Adamu said the intervention was designed to support children who had lost access to school as a result of displacement, crises or other vulnerabilities.
“We are here in Jato-Aka to witness the graduation of the Accelerated Learning Program learners, who are graduated and being certified. They are mainstreamed into the formal education so that they can access reputable education and enjoy all that it takes; good livelihoods and other benefits”, she said
The commissioner explained that the Accelerated Learning Programme was structured specifically for out-of-school children, including those who had never been enrolled before or had dropped out due to insecurity.
“This program is put together to ensure they are trained and kept abreast irrespective of their ages. The program is done for six months, and after that they integrate into the mainstream and then join their mates in formal school.
Adamu who noted that education is the right of every child said “They are our future, they are our hope, and that is why His Excellency Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia seeks for us to give attention to these children.”
The Head Teacher of RCM Primary School, Jato-Aka, Dr Comfort Ajio, expressed profound appreciation for the series of interventions.
“I really appreciate Save the Children for what they have done to my school. They introduced volunteer teachers, introduced skill acquisition programmes, built two structures for us and commissioned one today. The graduands were in evening classes for dropouts and have now been transferred to morning classes”, the headteacher said.
She also acknowledged the learning materials supplied saying
“They brought bags, water bottles and many other things. They have put smiles on my children’s faces”.
Explaining why her school and Injorsha benefited significantly, Dr Ajio said both communities host refugees and displaced children,
“There are so many of them here, and their parents cannot even afford tuition. That is why Save the Children is giving them special attention.”
She appealed for government support, saying, “We have a high population. If government can assist by building more structures and giving us more teachers, it will help. When SUBEB allocated teachers, they said only schools with fewer than 10 teachers would benefit. We have exactly 10, so we got none. And the volunteer teachers helping us will stop by December when the program ends.”
Ajio appreciated the organization for their efforts and listed ongoing skill-acquisition programmes, including tailoring, knitting, barbing, baking, soap-making and others which run in the evenings.
A volunteer teacher with Save the Children International, Mr Tersoo Nyitor, explained that the future of the programme depends on GPE funding. He explained that “Save the Children is just a catalyst; the main project is owned by GPE. Even if Save the Children’s involvement ends next month, another sponsor can come in and the project will continue. It should not be allowed to die.”
Parents also testified to the benefits of the intervention by Save The Children International. Mrs Janet Terngu, a parent and teacher from Injorsha Primary School, said:
“I appreciate Save the Children so much because they have relieved my burden of paying fees for the children I have. That is why I am here.”
On his part, the District Head of Yaav in Kwande LGA, HRH Chief Beebee Simon, also commended the organisation for its “relentless support” to displaced children and host communities.
The event featured cultural displays, certificate presentation, remarks from parents and the formal handover of the Temporary Learning Centre to the community.
