Report reveals that progress is recorded in the educational standard of refugees in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps as 65% per cent literacy level was recorded among 25,000 IDPs during a study.
The Aid for Rural Education Access Initiative (AREAi) while unveiling its 2023 Annual Report, underscored its ongoing efforts to transform education across Nigeria.
During the launch of the report titled “Transforming Education for Lifelong Learning,” Prince Gideon Olanrewaju, Executive Director of AREAi, highlighted the organisation’s landmark achievements, particularly the success of government partnerships.
The report focuses on the impact of its foundational learning programme, FASTRACK, which has reportedly reached over 120 communities nationwide.
“The impact of the work we do is only scaled through governmental adoption. We are excited to have secured two key partnerships that place us on the path to widespread adoption”, Olanrewaju said.
Simeon Edidiong, the director of AREAi programmes, said collaboration has been pivotal in transforming refugees’ literacy capacity.
“We conducted a pilot programme to deliver foundational skills and digital skills to 4,000 learners aged 5 to 20 across eight IDP camps in Abuja and Nasarawa states,” she said.
This pilot programme has reportedly created avenue for the expansion of the programme across IDP camps in all 36 Nigerian states.
According to Funmilola Ahmadu Bamidele, the senior programme manager of AREAi “”We’ve recorded a 65% improvement in literacy and numeracy among participants”
“These learners lacked foundational skills when they joined the programme, but FASTRACK has empowered them not just academically, but also in communication and arithmetic.”
“FASTRACK has two major outcome indicators: improved proficiency in literacy and numeracy and increased enrolment rates,” Bamidele explained.
“Our goal is to equip children with skills that will allow them to re-enrol in formal education or engage effectively in their communities.”
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE