Yola: The Adamawa State Government in collaboration with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and other stakeholders, has launched a research project aimed at tackling education challenges in conflict-affected communities. The initiative was unveiled during a stakeholders’ meeting in Yola on the third phase of Universal Basic Education (UBE) Implementation Research in conflict areas.
According to Voice of Nigeria, the project, led by the state’s education sector, was facilitated by the Common Heritage Foundation (CHF) with technical support from IRC and funding from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Regional Director of IRC, Prof. Oladele Akogun, explained that the workshop was designed to update stakeholders on findings from two earlier studies on UBE implementation, noting that all 21 local government areas in the state had agreed on the research as a priority. ‘Some of our findings show that policymakers often make decisions without consulting beneficiaries,’ Prof. Akogun stated.
He highlighted that the first phase of the study in Madagali revealed that community-led initiatives successfully brought children back to school despite the Boko Haram crisis. ‘In Madagali, the community insisted that any child not learning could not remain there, and it worked; today, almost all children are in school,’ he said. However, he noted that the second phase in Gombi showed that many pupils stayed out of school between October and December during the harvest season to earn income, a situation that forces parents to choose between poverty, starvation, and education.
Prof. Akogun recommended adopting flexible schooling models in such areas and urged the National Assembly to ensure community participation in the ongoing review of the UBE Act. He stressed that local governments, traditional rulers, religious leaders, parents, and wards should be involved in public hearings before major education policies are made. ‘We are ready to present evidence of our findings on the role of communities to the National Assembly,’ he stated.
The study in Nigeria is part of a broader research project also being conducted in South Sudan, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and three other countries. Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Dr. Rufus Hanawa, commended the initiative, noting that the number of out-of-school children in Adamawa had reduced from over one million to about 250,000. He attributed the improvement to state government interventions and partnerships with UNICEF, BESDA, IRC, and CHF.
Similarly, the Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at the Mass Education Board, Mr. Salihu Iliyasu, emphasised that community involvement is key to reducing truancy and promoting flexible learning. He said the adoption of the findings would enhance enrolment in formal education, vocational training, or Sangaya (Islamic and Arabic education), fostering self-reliance among children and youths.