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From Sola Ojo, Kaduna
The Save the Children International (SCI) on Wednesday flagged off the distribution of teaching and learning materials to support 1,140 out-of-school children in Kauru Local Government area of Kaduna.
SCI in partnership with Kishimi Shelter and Care Foundation is implementing a four-year Partnership For Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) project funded by Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) in Jigawa, Kano, and Kaduna States.
In Kaduna State, the project is targeting Kauru and Soba Local Government areas based on the number of out-of-school children and the economic status of their caregivers with the year one targeting children age six and 13 in six Kauru communities which would serve as centres for other adjoining communities within their respective catchment areas.
Unlike a classroom setting, the learning would be taking place in venues provided by each of the major centres.
In an interview with newsmen on the sideline of the event at Kauru Local Government Education Authority Office, Kauru, Education Project Coordinator, SCI, Ayuba Usman said the development became necessary to ensure children that have been out of school for more than two years are given another chance through community-based learning.
According to Ayuba, 72 facilitators were recruited for the Catch-up Club and another 36 were recruited for literacy and numeracy boost.
“Later on after they may have catch up, they will then be mainstreamed into formal school. The catch-up section is going to take place for 16 weeks where they will acquire all the fundamentals for literacy and numeracy.
The teaching and learning materials distributed include plastic chairs, mats, whiteboard, blackboard, dustless chalks, cardboard paper, scissors, crayons, exercise books for learners, pencils, and facilitator’s guide among others.
The six centres where the learning will be taking place are located in Marabaki, Kware, Kitimi, Kaibi, Kusheka, and Bandi Majidadi communities.
On mechanisms put in place to ensure the items are used for the purpose they were provided, he said, “we are working closely with the State and Local Governments, SUBEB, Director State Agency for Mass Literacy, and our community structures including community leaders.
“These are the structure that will monitor and validate the process. On the PLANE part, we have a monitoring team who will embark on constant monitoring, coaching of facilitators to ensure that the materials are used judiciously and impact the right knowledge on these children”, he clarified.
