UBEC introduces community learning centres for out-of-school girls

From: Femi Oyelola, kaduna

The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) said it has introduced Cluster Community Learning Centres (CCLC) for out-of- school girls, as part of efforts to provide access to quality education for the girl child.

UBEC’s Executive Secretary, Dr Hamid Bobboyi, made this known in Kaduna yesterday , at the opening of a two-day Roundtable Meeting to develop a framework for the implementation of the CCLC model.

Bobboyi, who was represented by the Director, Teacher Development, UBEC, Unwaha Ismail, explained that the CCLC was introduced to specifically take education to the doorsteps of out-of-school girls in their various communities across the country.

He said that the meeting was organised to develop a framework and guidelines for the implementation of the model, as a paradigm shift to solving the problem of out-of-school girls in the country.

“Specifically, this meeting is expected to define the concept of CCLC and how it will be operational and develop strategies that will be deployed for the success of the initiative.

“It is also expected to ensure that girl’s values and needs are equitably addressed an ensure that cluster learning centres become education refresher points in communities across the country,” he said.

He said that the Federal Government, through UBEC had implemented various interventions aimed at addressing girl’s education in the country, particularly in northern part of the country.

He recalled that the UBEC had constructed and equipped more than 70 Junior Model Girls Secondary School across the country to provide access and equity to the girl child.

The UBEC boss, however, said that the implementation of the programme encountered various challenges which necessitated UBEC to review it and came out with the CCLC strategy.

Also speaking, UBEC Director, Special Programmes, Malam Hassan Umar, pointed out that the girl child constitutes more than 60 per cent of out-of-school children in the country.

Umar explained that the CCLC model was designed to provide learning centres in clusters outside the conventional school settings, to serve as refreshers points to look at issues affecting girls and how to address them.

According to him, the model will promote the participation of girls in school activities and ensure that they have equal opportunity in accessing quality education for national development.

Hajiya Nafisat Babajo of Human Development Foundation of Nigeria, commended UBEC for the initiative, stressing that the girl child need basic literacy, numeracy and skills acquisition to live a quality life.

Similarly, Aisha Kilishi, Chairperson, Federation of Muslim Women’s Association (FOMWAN) in Nigeria, Bauchi State Chapter equally lauded the initiative and assured of FOMWAN’s full support.

One of the traditional rulers at the meeting, Alhaji Sa’ad Yola noted that communities underrates and disrespects women, in spite of their contribution to the family, community and the country at large.

According to him, inculcating good values, moral and the education of the child lies mostly on the shoulders of women.

He commended UBEC for the community centred approach to solving the problem of out-of-school girls in the country.