REYS INTERVENTION TO GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS IN ZONE “A”, DAMATURU LGA

ACTIVITY REPORT-REYS PROJECT 2022 ZONE “A”

ABOUT PROJECT

Vision

Our vision amongst others is to promote educational recovery in stable conditions and with dignity by improving the quality of education through creation of a conducive and safe environment for learning for both school children and teachers in Yobe state, northeast of Nigeria.

Mission Statement

We are committed to the provision of an innovative and holistic approach to stabilize and dignify education through support and re-structuring of learning environments in Yobe state.

Project Target

(PHASE 1): This project has a target of reaching out to 100 schools in the three zones of the state (Zone A= 40 schools, Zone B=35 schools.  & Zone C=25 schools). The project determined to reach out to 200 students/pupils in every school, giving a total of 20,000 students and pupils. Ten (10) teachers will be targeted per school to provide about 1000 teachers in all.               

Activity Objective:

• Encouraged reading, writing and use of English among student
• Support learning of science among students
• Create conducive atmosphere for learning
• Encourage exchange of ideas among students

Project Objectives linked to activity

1. To provide vulnerable children the fundamental right of qualitative and inclusive education, training and to restore dignity and meaning to the education of vulnerable children and working environment for teachers in the state.
2. To support teachers and students wellbeing in the post-conflict educational reforms/revamp in Yobe.

Context

Yobe State is recovering from the effects of a fleeting insurgency. Prior to this, Yobe was rated as one of the educationally disadvantaged states in Nigeria. The insurgency has made the situation worse. Thus, the incumbent governor of the state has declared state of emergency in primary and secondary education. Development experts opine that education can be used as a veritable tool in post-conflict recovery and rehabilitation thus driving development and positive peace. In consequence, this work attempts to investigate the perception of residents of the state in respect of the role English language can play in its post-conflict educational development. In order to achieve this, key informant interviews, focus group discussions and participatory observations were conducted by the researchers. It was found that despite the fact that there is an insignificant usage of English in various domains in the state, the respondents underscored that English language is pivotal in the educational development of the state. It stands as an instrument that could give the users of the language an opportunity to explore and diffuse knowledge; and also assume international citizenship and new global identity. Thus, it is recommended that stakeholders in the provision of English language education should provide an enabling environment for the development of the declarative and procedural knowledge of English in the learners thus serving as propeller of their academic achievements and the educational development of the state.

Schools in Yobe are in dire need of safety plans and early warning systems that can provide the required knowledge and skills needed to protect themselves, reduce the risk of injury or loss of life, and to be more resilient in the face of such of events. Providing safety information to school communities will enable them to develop emergency response plans to prevent or mitigate threats and vulnerabilities within and around schools. Similarly, schools in Yobe State need the knowledge and skills to establish early warning System to disseminate timely and meaningful warning information to enable school communities to take necessary preparedness measures and act appropriately to mitigate harm or loss. These factors along with the impact of COVID-19 school closure, will make millions of students not to return to school, especially girls.

Introduction

A good number of the government schools in Yobe state need to be revamped, as a result of insufficient capacity in terms of material and human resources and infrastructures, Lack of these mentioned resources makes the learning environments not conducive for both students and their teachers. The education department of Hope Interactive in collaboration with women for peace and social development initiative (WFPSDI) conducted needs assessment in some of the Government Schools in Damaturu and were able to identify some needs in the sampled government schools. The consortium visited the ministry of education (MOE), state universal basic education (SUBEB) and local government education authority (LGEA) for prior notification and permission for access into schools. A letter of introduction was given to the REYS consortium by the state ministry of education. It was in the light of these needs that the Hope Interactive in collaboration with Women for Peace and two other organizations on the REYS Platform (SAVWIN & CACRI) organized this intervention to meet the needs of the schools as identified.

The event commenced on Wednesday the 5^th of October 2022 at GSS Damaturu, which coincidentally was international teachers day. The event kicked off at about 10:00am with Opening prayers according to one’s faith. The Nigeria’s National Anthem was sung by the congregation as a sign of patriotism to our dear nation.  The Executive Director of Hope Interactive; Mr. Birma Mshelia gave his opening speech by welcoming the invited guests, staff and student for honoring the invitation to be a part of this memorable event. He addressed the issues faced by the education sector in Yobe state and how Revamping education in Yobe state (REYS) will play important role to promote educational recovery in stable conditions and with dignity by improving the quality of education through creation of a conducive and safe environment for learning for both school children and teachers in Yobe state, northeast of Nigeria.

The programs manager of Hope interactive, Mr. Andrew Wayuta shed more light on the REYS project where he stated the objectives, mission, vision, theory of change and project activities with the aim of intimating persons present and encourage new members to join the consortium, his session made clear the project REYS and its members

Spelling Bee

The Spelling Bee competition was then ushered in and six government schools competed among which are:

1. Government Day Secondary School (GDSS) Damaturu,
2. Government Secondary School (GSS) Babangida,
3. Government Secondary School (GSS) Bularafa,
4. Government Secondary School (GSS) Goniri,
5. Government Secondary School (GSS) Gulani, and

Government Secondary School (GSS) Damaturu.

The session was very educating and competitive as each of the participants gave in their very best in attempting the questions with the aim of winning the prize. The competition was in three phases which are amateur, intermediary and advance level. Questions were asked from each phases and bonus mark was rewarded for answering any question that was wrongly answered by an opponent. At the end of the competition, Government Day Secondary School (GDSS) Damaturu emerged overall winner of the competition.  Government Secondary School (GSS) Bularafa and Government Secondary School (GSS) Damaturu had a tie in the second position which led to answering additional questions to determine the actual second place winner of the competition.

Government Secondary School (GSS) Bularafa emerged second position and Government Secondary School (GSS) Damaturu emerged third. Trophy and medals was awarded to the winners while the fourth, fifth and sixth positions were awarded with prizes for participating in the spelling bee competition. The medals and trophies were presented by individual from ministries and organizations after which group photograph was taken with the participating schools. After the presentation, the executive Director of Hope interactive, Mr Birma Mshelia presented Two tables (3 seater each) and Six chairs to GSS Damaturu; sixteen (three seater) students seat GSS Goniri; Laboratory scales and packs of writing pen to GDSS Damaturu; Two cartons of chalk and packs of writing pen to GSS Bularafa; GSS Babangida and GSS Gulani. Bukar Ali GDJSS and Bukar Ali Primary schools were also presented with a cartons of chalk and packs of writing pen. The items were presented by the Executive Director of hope interactive alongside representatives of various CSOs present like AFRYDEV, ANCOPS, National Human rights commission (NHRC), network of Women led organizations, Federation of women lawyers etc. The national president of All Nigeria confederation of principals of secondary schools (ANCOPS) Alhaji Ibn Musa used the opportunity to celebrate teachers and to encourage them to never give up on their students and to put in their best.

Dignitaries present gave goodwill messages and appreciated this great move anchored by Hope Interactive. They encouraged other CBOs to emulate this great act of Intervention so as to preserve the future of education. A student by name Abba Hussaini Usman from GSS Goniri was impressed and motivated by the event and added that he is looking forward to engagements of such kind as it is an eye opener “this event is a great source of motivation to me because It made me realize my capacity and areas I need to work on, my writing and spelling capacity would have to increase, I would be glad if this activity would be organized again”.

Mallam Labaran, the National Human rights coordinator for Yobe state charged the students to never give in to discouragement and to remain committed to getting education as it is a right, not a privilege. Barrister Altine, who was once a classroom teacher told the students to press on in life because she is a product of perseverance and dedication.

MONITORING, EVALUATUION AND LEARNING

1. Chairs and desk: this was donated to teacher as it reaches 6 teachers directly it could also reach out to 6 other teachers as being the indirect beneficiaries.
2. Red pen for teachers: Two packs of red pen with 50 in each pack. This would reach out to about 50 teachers.
3. Three seat chair: 16 chairs was donated with the expectation it reach out to 48 students directly and over a 100 indirect beneficiaries from the subsequent sets.
4. Measuring scale: It is expected that a group of less than 10 students would use a single scale during practical, 3 scales would give a total of 30 direct beneficiaries and over 150 students to benefit from the indirectly from the previous sets.
5. Pen: a pack of blue pen contains 50 pieces and 7 packs was donated reaching a total 350 students as direct beneficiaries.
6. Chalk: 2 cartons (24 packs was given each school) an estimate of 720 students wound benefit from it, a total of 3,360 would be reached using 14 cartons (164 packets).

Activity output/Outcome:

1. Motivation: a good number of students stated that this activity inspired them to work hard so they can be better than what they are as they have seen their capacity and area to build on. A student by name Abba Hussaini Usman (GSS, Goniri) said “I would do all it takes to improve the way I speak and write English as I have been challenged to by our performance today” another by name Ibrahim Al-Hassan (A teacher in GSS, Damaturu) added “this event is timely looking at the standard of education in the state, activity like would propel the performance of many students since we have a cluster of schools here”. The Executive Director of AFRYDEV encouraged the students to strive and be steadfast, knowing well she also attended a public school and has moved on in life, carrier and academics.
2. Welfare/Welbeing: In the past, so many interventions focus more on the students/pupils. The REYS intervention took into consideration teacher wellbeing (TWB). staff and students express much appreciation to the REYS consortium for donating teachers’ seats and student desks as it is the major concern. A student whose school benefited from the intervention stated that “our sitting condition has not been friendly due to lack of seats, this donation would go a long way in making us sit comfortably and would like to solicit for more as others classes have few” – Usman Mohammed.  A teacher who pleaded anonymity “ what was done today would last long in our memory as students and teachers have benefited from this intervention, we pray that more of this support come to our school as we have huge need for seats”.
3. Curricular activity: The activity was designed in a way that would encourage student to strive for excellence and serve as a recreational session to ease stress and trauma of situations they have gone through. Each school came with other students to cheer and supports the spelling bee participants, this made the moment a memorable one to students and teaches present.
4. Exchange of ideas: A female teacher by name Altine Bukar shared her experience after the competition that the activity was a platform for students to exchange ideas and connect with students from other school.
5. Synergy and coordination: The safe schools declaring (SSD) and national policy on safety, security and violence free schools can only be achieved when stakeholders in the security sector are carried along. The NSCDC present during the event committed to joining force with the Nigeria Police force and military to ensure that schools are safe.

PHOTO GALLERY