MAAUN LEADS AFRICAN CONSORTIUM TO IMPROVE EDUCATION FOR NOMADIC CHILDREN
Read Time:2 Minute, 43 Second
By ‘Balogun Ibrahim
Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria (MAAUN), Kano, has partnered with three African universities to establish a consortium aimed at expanding access to education for nomadic pastoralists and other marginalised communities across the continent.
The initiative is designed to improve school enrolment, retention and completion rates among children in underserved communities through inclusive and flexible educational programmes.
The other institutions involved in the partnership are the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Kenya; Capital University, Somalia; and the University of Namibia.
The collaboration was announced on Tuesday during a three-day international conference in Kano themed, “Strengthening Inclusive and Flexible Education Pathways for Nomadic Pastoralists and Marginalised Learners in Africa.”
In his welcome address, the President of MAAUN, Prof. Mohammad Israr, described education as a fundamental human right and a vital instrument for societal transformation.
READ MORE…
DSS RELEASES FOUR MEN CLEARED OF IPOB LINKS, APPROVES N20M COMPENSATION
However, he observed that nomadic pastoralists and marginalised communities across Africa continued to encounter significant challenges in accessing quality education.
“Our responsibility as universities and educational institutions is to develop inclusive, flexible and innovative educational approaches that ensure no learner is left behind,” he said.
Israr noted that the conference offered stakeholders an opportunity to exchange knowledge, share experiences and develop practical strategies for improving educational opportunities for underserved communities.
In her keynote address, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id-Ahmad, said the conference addressed both a national responsibility and a shared continental commitment to ensuring that every child had access to quality education.
The minister, who was represented by the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Education, Zaria, Prof. Yahaya Bunkure, explained that the challenges facing nomadic children extended beyond securing admission into schools.
“For many of these children, the challenge is not only gaining admission into schools, but remaining in education, completing the learning cycle and acquiring competencies relevant to their lives,” she said.
She described educational access for nomadic and underserved children as a matter of equity, social justice, human dignity and national development.
The minister stressed the need for an education system that accommodates the diverse needs of Nigerians, reaches children regardless of their locations and provides learning opportunities that enable them to contribute meaningfully to society.
She also urged universities across Nigeria and other African countries to undertake research into the factors affecting access, participation, retention and learning outcomes among nomadic and underserved children.
Similarly, the founder of MAAUN Group of Universities, Prof. Adamu Abubakar-Gwarzo, advocated the development of curricula tailored to the specific educational needs of nomadic and pastoralist communities.
He said such programmes would equip children in these communities with relevant knowledge and skills to contribute to the development of their respective countries.
The Vice-Chancellors of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa and Capital University also participated in the conference virtually.
In their separate remarks, Prof. Elias Opngo of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa and Dr Ahmed Ga’al of Capital University emphasised the importance of providing equal educational opportunities to children, irrespective of their geographical locations, family occupations or circumstances.
They further called for stronger collaboration among African countries, stressing that addressing the challenges of nomadic education required collective efforts across the continent.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0