From Scholastica Hir Makurdi
A traditional ruler in Benue state has hailed United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for Joyful Parental Engagement training being introduced for possible adoption into Nigeria’s educational system saying it has brought him closer to his and other children in the community.
Recall that UNICEF is training 150 participants, including ECCD teachers, parents, ECCD Desk Officers, Education Secretaries, youth, women, community leaders and traditional rulers, in Benue on a program called Joyful Parental Engagement in Guma, Otukpo and Vandeikya Local Government Areas.
The programme is part of the Early Child Care Development (ECCD), programme by UNICEF intended to introduce the play aspect into the school work of children aged zero to five years to enhance their performances, both at home and in school
Speaking at the training in Otukpo, the Clan Head of Otiya Zone H/B, Otukpo LGA of the state, Chief Adah Ella, noted that the training has taught him to be closer to his children and other children in his domain.
He also noted that since he started coming close and being free with the children, he has noticed a positive influence as the children have already developed the confidence to speak to him freely saying he is also happy with that.
Chief Ella who noted that wisdom and knowledge is transferred to the younger generation by close interaction with them also promised to replicate the training in his domain to ensure that parents are aware of how the program can impact their lives and that of their children.
UNICEF Desk Officer, Ebonyi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr Christogonus Nweke, who is one of the resource persons, described the Joyful Parental Engagement, as the basic foundation for education that should not be neglected.
Nweke, an expert in Measurement and Evaluation, said based on his evaluation of the project, the program should be taken seriously, as it would serve to bridge the gap between the time the child spends at home and the time he or she spends in school.
He further stated that the introduction of the programme into schools and to be practiced at homes was already bringing back the ingredients that were lacking in the nation’s education system.
Nweke said, “My advice is everything has a base and anything that doesn’t have a foundation is not going to succeed so this joyful parental engagement is the foundation of education. Parents should take it seriously, if they do not, definitely their foundation for education is going to be very shaky.
“You can see that in our society today we have a lot of people who claim to be graduates but do not have skills, morality is lacking as they do not relate very well with their roots and society. But this program is actually trying to bring back those ingredients that are lacking in our education system.
“This workshop has come to bridge the gap between what happens at home and in the school, before now there was a gap between what happens at home with the parents and in school but with the parental engagement, they have been encouraged to take off part of what happens in school at home thereby bridging the gap so that there will be synergy.
He stated that “In the course of our training, we have interacted with the participants and we can see enthusiasm in them. So we are encouraging them to practice it in their various homes. I’m optimistic that it is going to be very impactful on our educational system.”
The Woman Leader of Otukpo Township Ward one, Mrs. Ada Ochekwu, said the training has exposed her to the area of development where play is used to aid children’s physical, mental and social development. She also pledged to step down the training to other women within the community.
Also, a youth leader in the community, Peter Adah, who said the training has prepared him to be a better parent in future, said he would also dedicate more time to play and teach children around him.