By Felix Samari
Today is the International Day of Education, a day proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in celebration of the role of education for peace and development.
Very remarkable day indeed considering the role of education in providing equal opportunities for all which also assures the building of great future to everyone, because it is only by education that even I, am able to write this today. No doubt without education I would not have had the privilege of sharing my thoughts on important issues like this. Many others have become what they are today because of education. It is therefore not a matter of debate that education is the bedrock of any meaningful development and the road map to the actualization of a world where peace reigns and rights are respected.
Sadly, the global records show that “258 million children and youth still do not attend school; 617 million children and adolescents cannot read and do basic math.” This is our story because the report stated that “less than 40% of girls in sub-Saharan Africa complete lower secondary school.” (UNESCO report)
For me the point to start is as captured by the statement of the United Nations General Secretary António Guterres who said, “We must do far more to advance Sustainable Development Goal 4, to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.”
Unmistakably, in Nigeria the north is far left behind in terms of education and this seems to continue without an end in view. 2018 UNICEF Report stated that 69% of the out of School children in Nigeria are in the North. This is something to really worry about and it calls for concerted effort to confront this horrible future that is steering us in the face.
During the first phase of the lockdown of the pandemic, northern governors made a move that appeared to be the solution to the end of street children in Northern Nigeria. Although it seemed to some as though it was targeted at particular group (the Almajiri system) this was a welcome move despite the unhealthy approach to the implementation as seen in some places where children were packed together to destinations without clear contacts and identification of their homes addresses or parents.
Today in most Northern cities in Nigeria children with plastic bowls have resurfaced and are rooming the about again in the name of Almajiri; which is an indication that the initial move was merely a fire-brigade-approach to situation that require resolute effort and concrete plan to yield a lasting solution.
There can never be peace and tranquillity in a society where some children are neglected either by their parents or the government. If the government and the religious institutions (Christians and Muslims) cannot find lasting solution to out-of-school-children in northern Nigeria, we are not going to be out most of the quagmire we are bedevilled with today. Because if we cannot take care of the children out of school now, they will be the nuisance that will disturb the peace of our children that we are busy paying extravagantly to train in luxurious private schools.
Northern leaders must rise to their responsibility and find a way to end street children and provide them with quality and reasonable education. “Without inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong opportunities for all, countries will not succeed in achieving gender equality and breaking the cycle of poverty that is leaving millions of children, youth and adults behind.” As captured by UNESCO statement on the 2021 International Day of Education.
One other dangerous step that North is taking is the negligence of the girl-child education. Many girls in the northern part of Nigeria are not given the opportunity to go to school despite the numerous campaigns for girl-child education. I think this is a big challenge to the educated female especially those in politics, wives of governors and those in legislative responsibilities. Haven tested the beauty of education they must arise and call on parents, governments and traditional institutions to ensure the girl child is given equal opportunity to get education. “In 2021, we must seize all opportunities to turn this situation around.” As captured in the words of the UN General Secretary.
The north has to come up with a model that will suffice for the region, especially how to blend the Quranic education system with western education. Since most of the children rooming streets are said to be in pursuance of Quranic education, the government can solve this problem once and for all. If the teachers are identified their schools can be modernized with classrooms and other subjects added with teachers along the Islamic knowledge, and then the children should be given meals at school since there is already a Federal Government programme on feeding school children. With this put in place, government will be able to then enforce law that forbid children street begging, or loitering.
The best way to fight poverty, insecurity and lack of peace in Northern Nigeria will be through caring for those whose are retarded and have the feeling that they are neglected especially the younger generation and it is by giving them the of best opportunity through quality education that they will become responsible citizens. Education is the only way to ensuring equal opportunity for all and it is a right that no one should be denied of. According to the Background document of the 2nd Intergovernmental Meeting of the Regional Education Project for Latin America and the Caribbean, held at, Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2007; quality education for all is a “public good and basic human right that States have the obligation to respect, foster, and protect in order to assure equal opportunity of access to knowledge for the entire population.”
The pandemic has interrupted education in many ways. The UN General Secretary believes that the interruption of education has effects on everyone but especially the students, teachers and the family. This is true but there is a way we can all go. As the theme suggested ‘Recover and Revitalize Education for the COVID-19 Generation’ Northern Governors should collectively look for ways to recover and revitalize education in the region and be deliberate in finding ways to remove the leaders of tomorrow from the streets. All hands must be on deck to provide education to all and it must be taken as a matter of priority because education is a basic essential for the survival of a nation. God bless Nigeria, God bless Northern Nigeria God bless our children!
Felix Samari
A writer and a PR expert
Yola, Adamawa state
