MISBAHU BASHIR

It is in a bid to close this possible catastrophe, according to Aisha Hashim, Project Coordinator of the Youth Empowerment Resilience Response Project, an initiative of the development Research & Projects Centre (dRPC), supported by the Open Society Foundations, that necessitated the invitation of public schools at the Federal and State levels, with students writing NABTEB exams in September – October 2020, to apply for the direct school support for activities intended to improve examination outcomes and improve transition to the world of skill-work in order to mitigate the negative impact of Covid-19 on the school system. Over 100 schools from across the 36 states of the federation applied for the grants of between N300,000 to N1 million.

‘’The grants aimed to support the after-school hours coaching; airtime for on-line coaching or for students to access recommended websites; purchase of past question papers and answers or textbooks; purchase of Covid-19 protection materials such as hand sanitizers; tables and chairs so that students can be separated. The grant cannot be used for private individual lessons; any activity associated with exam malpractice; or related activities.’’ She said

The grants also targets schools with large populations of students; schools with a large number of female students; schools in disadvantage communities or peri-urban or rural areas; with a functioning PTA or Schools Based Management Committee; schools with guidance and counselling programs; and schools with plans to provide follow up support to mentor school leavers will all have an added advantage.

An analysis of the applicant shows that out of the over 102 schools that applied for the grants, 31 schools from Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Niger, Zamfara, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Borno, Kwara, Yobe, Plateau, Bauchi, Ebonyi and Kebbi states were selected based on the criteria set up for beneficiaries of the grants. Between N300,000 and N1 million each was given as award to the schools.

Already, award ceremonies for all the 31 schools that fulfilled the criteria for the intervention fund have been taking place across the country in a bid to ensure adequate coaching ahead of the commencement of the NABTEB examinations from the 21st of this month.

In Enugu State, the award was presented by Dr Stanley Elechukwu. In his speech after receiving the award, the principal of the school, Mr. Ndubuisi Raphael, was elated and could not hide his joy. “I really want to appreciate the effort of dRPC and SSDO in the improvement of quality education and welfare of students during the period of the examination.”

In Kaduna State, Reverend Bitrus of the Interfaith Mediation Centre, Kaduna, who handed over the award to the Principal of Government Technical College Kajuru, described the intervention as a great opportunity to improve examination outcomes for the students whose learning was disrupted by COVID-19 as they prepare to write their final examinations.

Attack on education is defined as any threatened or actual use of force against students, teachers, academics, education support and education officials, education buildings, resources, or facilities.

Attacks on education kill and injure, lead to student dropouts, loss of teachers, and extended school and university closures.

They diminish the quality of education and have devastating, long-term consequences for society, the experts said.

Education is said to be under attack globally and the number of attacks is only rising, thus the need to remind the global community that education is an essential driver of human development and the solution.

While experts across the globe said they must stand in unity to ensure that they end attacks on education to protect and secure undisrupted, equitable, and quality learning, they further stated that a child’s right to education cannot be safeguarded in conflict zones without education itself being protected.

The UN said the day draws attention to the plight of more than 75 million 3-to-18-year-olds living in 35 crisis-affected countries and to their urgent need of educational support.

The United Nations in Nigeria, in a statement, said safeguarding education from attack is urgently needed to restore confidence in schools as places of protection for children and teachers.

This is particularly pressing in light of the COVID-19, which affected 46 million primary and secondary learners across Nigeria due to pandemic-related school closures.

The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr Edward Kallon said: “As state governments plan to reopen schools after prolonged closures, building a resilient education system to withstand future shocks should be included in pandemic response plans.”

He noted that prioritising safety in schools for educators and learners is an indication of government’s commitment to protecting investments in the education sector and a validation of Nigeria’s endorsement of the Safe Schools Declaration.

The report said in the 37 countries profiled, at least 10 attacks on education occurred over the last five years.

It noted that conflict has severely impinged on the right to education in Nigeria, saying, from 2009 to December 2018, 611 teachers were killed, 910 schools damaged or destroyed and more than 1,500 schools forced to close due to Boko Haram-related violence, interrupting the schooling of more than 900,000 children.

The report stated that Boko Haram openly targeted students based on gender, distinctly impacting the education of girls and women.

Also on December 24, 2018, Boko Haram allegedly burnt two schools in Kukareta and Ngaurawa villages, Yobe State, the GCPEA report said