Civil Society, Media Synergise On Educational Challenges

Civil society organisations and media representatives under the auspices of the Beta Nigeria Education Campaign in Kaduna State have pledged to address critical education issues, including teacher shortages, out-of-school children (OOSC) and weak accountability in the sector.

Towards this end, the stakeholders carried out advocacy visits to the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and Ministry of Human Services and Social Development to secure partnerships and refine campaign messaging, laying the groundwork for impactful education reforms in Kaduna State.

The advocacy visits was an offshoot of commitment made during a roundtable organised by Beta Nigeria on December 5 and 6 in Kaduna State which brought together stakeholders to discuss actionable solutions to systemic challenges. The participants identified low teacher incentives, inadequate housing, and political interference in recruitment as key barriers to addressing teacher shortages.

Recommendations at the advocacy visits included incentivising rural teacher deployment, improving inclusive education training and engaging local government chairmen to enhance accountability.
On out-of-school children, (OOSC) the discussions focused on poverty, unemployment and cultural barriers, with solutions emphasising the implementation of the Child Rights Act, skill-based education, and community-led initiatives to increase enrollment and retention.

Suleiman Abdulazeez, the representative of Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities,(JONAPWD) in the retreat highlighted the need for inclusive policies to address barriers to education for PWDs, particularly the lack of accessibility for both students and teachers.

Henry Michael, a representative of the Civil Society Action Coalition on Education For All (CSACEFA), advocated for government accountability and effective resource allocation to address teacher shortages and improve learning conditions in underserved areas.

Beta Nigeria unveiled plans for a media and communications strategy to amplify advocacy efforts through traditional and digital platforms.

Community influencers have already created social media videos and picture stories to raise awareness, while a newly established WhatsApp influencer network across Kaduna, Kano, and Jigawa aims to sustain engagement and collaboration.

Speaking to journalists, Dr. Micah Shafi, an academic scholar proposed a holistic awareness campaigns targeting families to improve the perception of education. He Recommended revising curriculum to incorporate relevant skill sets for employability.