By Ladi Jossy, Maiduguri
A non-governmental organisation, the Centre for Advocacy, Transparency and Accountability Initiative (CATAI), has urged the state government to implement safe schools policies for girls and persons living with disabilities, with a view to protecting and ensuring access to safe learning facilities in Borno State.
The project was funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), in partnership with UNICEF and jointly implemented by the Consortium of CATAI, CASFORD, CODE, Hallmark Leadership Initiative, BOWDI, TiP, SEAAD, and Centre for Girls Education.
Ibrahim Abdulkadir Sabo, the Project Lead, CATAI, disclosed this during the town hall meeting for key stakeholders on gender-responsive education held in Maiduguri.
He indicated that the Findings from the 2022 Annual School Census indicate that several Local Government Areas (LGAs), including Damboa, Askira Uba, Mafa, and Gubio, showed pronounced disparities in girls’ educational participation compared to boys, alongside a critical shortage of qualified female teachers.
According to him, it aimed to provide a platform for government officials, education authorities, traditional leaders, and religious leaders to collectively identify priorities, clarify roles, and agree on actionable steps to improve implementation of gender-responsive education interventions (GRESP) and Local Education Sector Operational Plans (LESOPs).
He said, “Yes, so CATAI, as I highlighted, and other local NGOs local partners, are conducting advocacy, and we want to see that government have actually implemented all those recommendations that we have provided in terms of providing access to the safe facilities for girls, to try for girls to be able to learn in a conducive environment, and then also to have quality education within Borneo state.”
He commended the effort of the Borno State government and partners for Advocacy and creating awareness geared toward reducing out-of-school children in the state.
“This activity is a multi-stakeholder town hall meeting designed to disseminate and validate evidence, foster inclusive dialogue, and strengthen stakeholder ownership of gender-responsive education interventions.
“I think the state government are making a lot of effort, including international partners and local NGOs, to see that they have intensified awareness creation and sensitisation on back to school campaign, and there are lots of ongoing efforts by government to see that girls are provided with access,” he said.
He said, “CATAI and other international and local partners are conducting advocacy even at the higher level, to see that girls are having access to menstrual hygiene across schools. There is provision of separate facilities for boys and girls in schools, and then also, there is provision for inclusive assisted devices for persons living with disabilities.”
