The UNICEF Chief of Maiduguri Field Office, Phuong T. Nguyen has said that the need to have accurate and sufficient data to counter the impact of armed conflict on the education sector in north-east Nigeria was behind the recent training of government technical officers on Education Management Information System.
Nguyen said this on Monday in a press statement announcing the training.
While noting that children in north-east Nigeria are among the most conflict-affected and educationally disadvantaged globally, she stated that the training, funded by the European Union, could help turn the tide.
The protracted security crisis in north-east Nigeria has exacerbated the weakness of basic social services delivery depriving children of their right to education, protection, and many other critical services.
Children in north-east Nigeria are among the most conflict-affected and educationally disadvantaged in the world.
“UNICEF is excited to support Governments in north-east Nigeria to gain timely and credible data to support evidence-based planning for the education sector.
“For conflict-affected children across north-east Nigeria, it means one thing – schools will have adequate teachers, more inclusive and child-friendly learning environment, including safe classrooms, gender-segregated toilets and water points as enablers to stay in school, transition, complete their education and contribute positively to the society.
This initiative will help improve access to quality education for marginalised children, especially girls and others living with disabilities,’’ said Nguyen.
According to the UNICEF Chief, the 50 education officers trained will step down to the training to more data officers of other non-formal learning centres, including of children attending Tsangaya and Islamiyya centres in the region.
For the first time, data on out-of-school children, children attending Tsangaya and Islamiyya schools and non-formal education pathways will be captured and stored digitally to improve education planning and targeting services to support girls and boys,’’ she said.
