By Ibrahim Ibrahim
Communities in Jigawa State have identified the lack of community support for learning as a key factor contributing to rising learning poverty and the increasing number of out-of-school children.
Some of the communities in Babura and Malam Madori local Government disclosed this
during a Partnership Defined Quality Scorecard (PDQS) Town hall meeting with stakeholders organised by Save the Children International (SCI) in collaboration with Jigawa State government through Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE), Window 3- held at Babura and Malam Madori town.
The aim of the meeting is to strengthening community participation to improve safe, inclusive and quality education.
Speaking at the meeting, the communities noted that despite the government’s and donors strong commitment, meaningful progress in the development of education would remain unattainable without active community participation.
They stated that with full community support for education, no child would be left out of school, as communities would take responsibility for providing essential school needs, including WASH facilities, and ensuring teachers remain committed even in the absence of government intervention.
Education secretary Malam Madori local Government Idris Nuhu urged the School Based Monitoring Committee (SBMC) to put more effort in identifying some of the challenges facing the schools in their respective communities including teacher’s, student’s absenteeism, teacher’s, parent’s, misconduct.
“Headteachers are failing to report teachers’ misconduct due to personal relationships, and this is significantly undermining the quality of learning in our schools”
“Government and donors are doing their best in improving education but teacher’s and community action is undermining all the efforts”
“School Based Monitoring Committee (SBMC) help us, help your children by reporting to us and community leaders on any of the teacher’s and community ‘s misconduct because we cannot be everywhere” he said.
Field Manager of Save the Children International in Jigawa State, Mr Stephen Sawa, emphasises on the need for stronger collaboration between communities and government in sustaining education interventions.
He said, over 3,000 children including more than 200 children with disabilities have been enrolled through the Accelerated Basic Education Programme (ABEP) across 68 centers in Babura and Mallam Madori supported communities.
“Our approach is community-based learning. It reinforces that education is a shared responsibility between government, donors, and the community,” he added.
He urged all stakeholders to sustain ongoing efforts to significantly reduce the number of out-of-school children in Jigawa State.
He said, the community is an integral part of any education programme. Sustaining these gains requires collective responsibility,” he said.
