SCI Brings Joy to 352 Out-of-School Children, Donates Learning Materials in Benue

From Dooshima Hir, Makurdi

A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Save the Children International (SCI), has commissioned a newly constructed Temporary Learning Centre and donated learning materials to pupils of RCM Primary School, Jato-Aka, and Injorsha, in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State.

The gesture, which brought joy to children who were previously out of school and to their parents, was part of activities marking the graduation of learners under the Accelerated Learning Programme (ALP).

The event, held at RCM Primary School, Jato-Aka, drew government officials, development partners, school authorities, parents, traditional leaders, and beneficiaries.

Speaking at the event, the Education Officer of Save the Children International for Benue State, Mr. Simon Vihi, explained that the Accelerated Learning Programme is part of a GPE-funded intervention being implemented across Benue, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Taraba, and Adamawa states.

He said, “We are gathered here to officially commemorate the graduation of Accelerated Learning Program graduands. Out-of-school children were mapped and enrolled in a non-formal program where they were prepared for a period of six months, sometimes nine, depending on their ability to cope. The essence is to prepare and mainstream them back into the formal schools.”

Vihi commended the commitment of the state government through the Education Commissioner, noting that she chairs the State Program Technical Committee inaugurated by the Federal Ministry of Education.

While presenting learning kits to newly enrolled pupils, Vihi added, “We procured learning kits so that once they start school, they will be able to learn effectively. We have distributed the kits and issued certificates. They are now fully certified to continue in the regular school setting.”

He confirmed that the newly commissioned Temporary Learning Centre was constructed by Save the Children International, saying, “It is new. We built it from scratch. It is called a temporary learning space. It is not like the regular classrooms because the project does not have the budget to construct normal classroom blocks, but it serves the purpose and can later be converted to a permanent structure. We are implementing in about 14 schools within Kwande alone.”

Earlier, the State Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, Dr. (Mrs.) Margaret Adamu, who chairs the state’s technical committee of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) project, performed the commissioning.

Adamu said the intervention was designed to support children who had lost access to school due to displacement, crises, or other vulnerabilities.

“We are here in Jato-Aka to witness the graduation of the Accelerated Learning Program learners, who are graduated and being certified. They are mainstreamed into the formal education so that they can access reputable education and enjoy all that it takes; good livelihoods and other benefits,” she said.

She explained that the Accelerated Learning Programme was structured for out-of-school children, including those who had never been enrolled before or had dropped out due to insecurity.

“This program is put together to ensure they are trained and kept abreast irrespective of their ages. The program is done for six months, and after that they integrate into the mainstream and then join their mates in formal school.”

Adamu reaffirmed that education is the right of every child, saying, “They are our future, they are our hope, and that is why His Excellency Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia seeks for us to give attention to these children.”

The Head Teacher of RCM Primary School, Jato-Aka, Dr. Comfort Ajio, expressed deep appreciation for the interventions.

“I really appreciate Save the Children for what they have done to my school. They introduced volunteer teachers, introduced skill acquisition programmes, built two structures for us and commissioned one today. The graduands were in evening classes for dropouts and have now been transferred to morning classes,” she said.

She also commended the learning materials supplied, stating, “They brought bags, water bottles, and many other things. They have put smiles on my children’s faces.”

Ajio explained that her school and Injorsha were chosen because they host refugees and displaced children. “There are so many of them here, and their parents cannot even afford tuition. That is why Save the Children is giving them special attention.”

She appealed for government support, saying, “We have a high population. If government can assist by building more structures and giving us more teachers, it will help. When SUBEB allocated teachers, they said only schools with fewer than 10 teachers would benefit. We have exactly 10, so we got none. And the volunteer teachers helping us will stop by December when the program ends.”

Ajio praised the organization for the ongoing skill acquisition programmes—including tailoring, knitting, barbing, baking, soap-making, and others—which run in the evenings.

A volunteer teacher with Save the Children International, Mr. Tersoo Nyitor, said the future of the programme depends on GPE funding. “Save the Children is just a catalyst; the main project is owned by GPE. Even if Save the Children’s involvement ends next month, another sponsor can come in and the project will continue. It should not be allowed to die,” he said.

Parents also shared their appreciation. Mrs. Janet Terngu, a parent and teacher from Injorsha Primary School, said, “I appreciate Save the Children so much because they have relieved my burden of paying fees for the children I have. That is why I am here.”

The District Head of Yaav in Kwande LGA, HRH Chief Beebee Simon, also applauded the organisation for its “relentless support” to displaced children and their host communities.

The event featured cultural displays, certificate presentations, remarks from parents, and the formal handover of the Temporary Learning Centre to the community.