UNICEF pledges more support to education in Borno

UNICEF pledges more support to education in Borno

NAN-H-59
Assurance
Maiduguri, July 4, 2017 (NAN) The United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) says it will continue to provide intervention towards ensuring qualitative education in Borno.

UNICEF Representative, Mr Mohamed Malick, gave the assurance during a meeting with the Executive Chairman of the State’s Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr Bukar Kullima in Maiduguri on Tuesday.

Malam Rabiu Musa, the UNICEF Media and External Relations Officer, made this known in a statement in Maiduguri.

“Education will continue to be the main focus in the coming weeks to accelerate interventions and ensure sustainable efforts to deliver more quality results in the best interest of both girls and boys, especially those affected by the conflict in Borno,” he said.

The Representative said UNICEF was consulting with government and other key stakeholders to agree on the best way forward and to ensure all those concerned were on the same page.

“UNICEF is committed to ensuring that every school age child goes to school regardless of the conflict; it is a right of these children,” Malick reiterated.

In his response, Kullima was quoted as informing the Representative that due to the strategic interventions by UNICEF the girl-child education was receiving a boost with significant increase in enrolment as both parents and the pupils were being encouraged.

He explained that the initiative would begin a pilot scheme with 24 new schools in the state.

“UNICEF will provide 30,000 girls with school uniform and other learning materials support like school in a box and teaching aids by September this year,’’ he said.

NAN recalls that UNICEF had in 2016 supported 28, 000 girls with complete set of school uniforms.

UNICEF Education Specialist in Maiduguri office, Dr Yusuf Ismail, told NAN that so far, UNICEF was the only organisation providing formal education support in the newly liberated areas from insurgents groups throughout the state. (NAN)
ABI/DOR/AFA
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Edited by Nyisom Dore/Felix Ajide