EU project takes 13,000 children back to school in Borno

EU project takes 13,000 children back to school in Borno

By: Olatunji Omirin

The European Union (EU) has supported the return and enrollment of more than 13,000 children to school across 10 local government areas of Borno state in northeast Nigeria.

UNICEF said approximately 645 teachers were killed by Boko Haram insurgents, 19,000 teachers were displaced and 1,500 schools were damaged by the insurgents.

Speaking at the closeout ceremony in Maiduguri on Tuesday, Country Director of Plan International Nigeria, Mr. Charles Usie Emmamuzou said that 80,000 primary and secondary pupils benefited from improved access to quality education.

Usie who was represented by the Organisation’s Director of Programme Quality and Innovation, Jummai Lawan Musa, said that 52,585 children received vouchers for learning kits, 25,462 girls and young women received dignity kits to manage menstruation, and 2,580 young people received vouchers for business start-up kits.

“More than 13,000 children and youth who had lost some years of learning, benefitted from acceleration learning, while 12,000 young people benefitted from life savings training, and 3,010 received employability and business trains,”

He added, “182 classrooms were rehabilitated and furniture provided, 82 water points were installed or repaired, and 550 latrine cubicles were constructed across the most needed of the 123 schools and 14 Tsangayas.

“As part of our measures at ensuring more value addition to the learning environment, 14 schools were established with kitchen gardens, and psycho-social resources were established in 73 schools for referrals for children with trauma,”Charles said.

The three-year project titled: “European Union Support to Response,Recovery and Resilience in Borno State and it was consortium of humanitarian organisations

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This is in itself very unique with strategic focus on enrolment, retention and transition in both formal and non-formal education setting. Special considerations were also given to out-of-school children and youths displaced by the insurgency. 

We are very happy today to see that altogether over five hundred and fifty thousand people have been reached by all the 6 implementing partners including: Plan, SC, GEPADC, UNICEF, SC, and NRC. 

To boost employability skills development and youth employment generation, we would encourage the Government to continue with the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) started by this programme. I am aware that we have supported over thirty-one thousand (31,000) beneficiaries. 

In his remarks, The European Union Lead Borno, Kabiru Abbas, said special considerations were also given to out-of-school children and youths displaced by the insurgency. 

“This is in itself very unique with strategic focus on enrolment, retention and transition in both formal and non-formal education settings. 

“We are very happy today to see that altogether over five hundred and fifty thousand people have been reached by all the 6 implementing partners including: Plan, SC, GEPADC, UNICEF, SC, and NRC. 

“To boost employability skills development and youth employment generation, we would encourage the Government to continue with the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) started by this programme. I am aware that we have supported over thirty-one thousand (31,000) beneficiaries.” Abbas said.

EU project takes 13,000 children back to school in Borno