By Joy Gadani
The Basileia Vulnerable Persons Right Initiative (Bvpri) and Helen Memorial Foundation (HMF) have urged the Kaduna State Government to review its Second Chance Education Policy to include ICT Remote learning for out of school married adolescents.
The event was aimed at providing participants with results of findings on gaps identified in the implementation of the policy and gaining commitment towards support for the policy advocacy.
The Project “Advocacy for ICT Remote Learning for Out of School Married Adolescents (AIRLOMA) seeks for a review of the Second Chance Education Policy of Kaduna State to include Information Communication and Technology (ICT) learning options so that Out of school Married Adolescents (OMAs) can go back to school, and continue learning remotely.
Speaking at the event which was held Tuesday, the Project Manager, Mr Mudiare Ejiroghene said the existing Second Chance Education Policy provides for re-enrollment, retention, and completion of secondary education for married adolescents, however, family responsibility and academic demands have
resulted in records of second time
dropouts among girls.
“We believe that if the result of the advocacy is achieved, it will make learning flexible enough to help the OMAs go back to school, cope better with domestic demands, and improve the secondary school completion rates for married adolescents in Kaduna”, he said.
Presenting findings of the project research, Mr Shinkut Sheyin, a research consultant said factors limiting the uptake of the Second Chance Programme are low levels of awareness and maintenance of 100% traditional classroom approach to learning.
According to him, “In recent years Kaduna State has made significant progress on access to schooling, especially among girls/women owing to the various programs and drives” and the existing Second Chance Education Policy is one of such initiatives.
He emphasized that the project will promote increased access to education for out of school married adolescents, and increase uptake and implementation of the second chance policy.
The expected advocacy result of the AIRLOMA Project is for “The Kaduna State Honourable Commissioner of education to approve the review of the second chance education policy to include ICT remote learning for out of school married adolescent by the end of 2024”.
A Media Round Table was also held Wednesday, to acqaint journalists with the project as well as findings from AIRLOMA baseline research.
Participants who lauded the project, pledged their commitment to amplify the advocacy strategies towards convincing the policy makers to embrace the project and do the needful.
Under the advocacy, the NGOs will meet key influencers including religious and Community leaders towards achieving the desired goals of AIRLOMA.
Already, a number of Out of School Married Adolescents selected from some communities have been trained to spread the gospel of the project.
The set back suffered by this category of adolescents, the stakeholders believe, should not be a barrier to continued education as they could remain at the comfort of their homes and remotely learn through ICT, radio and television inclusive.
The project being implemented by Basileia Vulnerable Persons Right Initiative (BVPRI) and Helen Memorial Foundation (HMF) is with support from Rise Up, funded by Public Health Institute (PHI) of John Hopkins University.
