The European Union (EU), in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has commenced the training of education stakeholders on school safety, psycho-social support and climate literacy in Kano.
Speaking at the opening on Wednesday in Kano, Aisha Abdullahi, state education facilitator, Education and Youth Empowerment (EYE), said that the training was organized by EYE.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that EYE is a EU-funded programme and supported by UNICEF in the Northwest.
Abdullahi said the four-year programme, which is from October 2023 to August 2027, covers Kano, Jigawa and Sokoto states.
“The programme operation is categorised into three main outputs.
“It involves strengthening education governance and learning, expanded access to safe and inclusive learning environment as well as giving quality, continuous learning and enhanced competencies,” she said.
Abdullahi said that Kano State was selected as one of the top beneficiaries of the newly introduced EU-funded education and empowerment programme in Nigeria
The state education facilitator noted that the project would increase the number of girls and boys benefiting from safe, inclusive, relevant learning and skills development opportunities.
According to her, the Training of the Trainers (ToT) will be followed by step-down training to schools in 10 selected local government of Kano state.
“We started this exercise with the training of ToT, they are the master trainers and the master trainers will go down to step-down the training to 800 teachers across the schools in 10 Local government areas of the state.
“The local governments are; Nasarawa, Kano Municipal, Dala, Gwale, Sumaila, Gezawa, Dawakin-Tofa, Makoda, Tudun-Wada and Dambatta local government areas,” she said.
Abdullahi added that the training would develop the capacity of the stakeholders on conflict and disaster risk reduction through effective knowledge of early warning signs, identification and response.
“The aim is also to communicate the mechanisms to be put in place by all schools to address all kinds of hazards, especially violence and conflict for the continuation of schooling at all times.
“And also to provide guidance on processes and procedures for ensuring safe learning environments for all users,” she said.
She said that the 40 participants were drawn from local government areas, Ministry of Education, SUBEB, Quranic, Islamic and Sangaya schools management board and tertiary institutions.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Umar Doguwa, commended the intervention of UNICEF through the EU-EYE project in the education sector.
Doguwa, represented by Director Educational Support Services, Hajiya Halima Tukur, said that the interventions would improve access to quality education for children, particularly those in underserved communities.
“Their programme has addressed challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, teachers trainings, and gender disparities in education.
“UNICEF has helped in creating a brighter future for these young learners.”
He said that the training wwould also enhance participants capacity towards contributing to the safety and emotional well-being and future preparedness of students.
“This training will equip you with the tools to create learning environments where students will feel secure and protected,” he said.(NAN)
