UNICEF: I.6 millions children are out-of-school in the Northeast region

UNICEF: I.6 millions children are out-of-school in the Northeast region

By: Omirin Joshua

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised alarms that no fewer than 1.6 million children are out of school in North East region affected by the conflict.

UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Maiduguri Phuong Nguyen disclosed this during a  Seminar Foundation Literacy and Numeracy in North-East Nigeria held in Maiduguri on Wednesday that it look at the vast and unique education needs of children affected by conflict.

She reiterated that UNICEF remains committed to leaving no child behind as it seeks to accelerate education delivery in Nigeria.

She stressed the need for the overnment, UNICEF, donor agencies and other development partners who re already committed to increasing awareness of fundamental learning and excited to share innovative methods learned from the implementation of these programmes in the region.

“At least 1.6 million children are out of school in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States. Of those in school, 72% cannot read a simple text after grade 6. Without acquiring appropriate foundational and transferable skills, children fail to thrive in school and life. 

READ ALSO: https://dailypost.ng/2023/08/02/niger-tribunal-set-to-give-ruling-on-17-petitions-445-exhibits/

She said: “Addressing the learning crises in North-East, and in Nigeria as a whole, requires us to examine the evidence of what works, explore partnerships with the State, NGOs, development partners and communities.

“This seminar provides us with a platform to share evidence, experiences and to renew our commitment to improving learning outcomes of schoolgirls and boys,” she said.

Speaking at the seminar, Nguyen assured that UNICEF will convene practitioners and experts government officials and civil society to discuss how best Nigeria can foster Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) with a particular focus on Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL), Kanuri, Arithmetic and Reading Intervention (KARI), Reading and Numeracy Activity (RANA) and the Accelerated Basic Education Programme (ABEP).

According to her, the seminar is aimed at promoting awareness of FLN models and lessons from the implementation of fundamental learning programmes in north East Nigeria with special consideration of the ongoing humanitarian-development nexus in the region.

UNICEF: I.6 millions children are out-of-school in the Northeast region