update22

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF A 3 DAY’S CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP ON GENDER RESPONSIVE EDUCATIONAL PLANNING HELD AT THE TRANQUILA HOTEL, MABUSHI ABUJA FROM 22^ND TO 24^TH JUNE, 2023.

Preamble

The FAWE lead consortium comprising of Forum for African Women Educationist (FAWE) Plan International and Civil Society Action Coalition on Education For All (CACEFA). The consortium conducted three day’s National workshop on the theme Mobilizing Civil Society for a Gender Responsive Education Sector Planning – Agenda Setting. Gender-Responsive Education Sector Planning(GRESP) is a whole-system approach to advancing gender equality in and through education, including learning and learning environments, teacher education and practice, curriculum and materials development and leadership and administration. The three day’s workshop brought together thirty (30) education advocates from Katsina, Kaduna, Cross-Rivers states and Abuja Federal Capital territory.

The workshop was aimed at building National Gender Responsive Education Sector Planning experts that will utilize their skills and potentials in supporting states and federal level education sector budgetary processes. Participants were trained on Gender and Budget development processes in the Education sector, how to conduct situation analysis to arrive at issues, Budget Monitoring tools; Community Score Card and Public Expenditure Tracking Survey (PETS), participants and development of Advocacy and influencing messages.

Observation

In the course of the training and deliberations, participants at the workshop noted the following:

1. Inadequate Basic and Secondary Education Budget: Participants discussed extensively on the budget allocation to education especially the Basic education and the neglect of that of Secondary schools.   A further x-ray  of the budget reveled that education budget is reducing by size and sensitivity to gender and inclusion  in each passing year.
2. Inefficient Utilization of Education Budget: Notwithstanding the inadequacy of education budget, participants observed with dismay that available budget are not efficiently utilized for education especially Basic Education Purposes at the states and even federal level.
3. Non Gender Responsive Gender Education Sector Plan: A critical look into the education plans of some States indicates that the sector  plans particularly sections on provision of infrastructure and teachers development and some other notable items do not consider gender and inclusion.
4.  Out of School Children. Another concern observed by participants is the increasing number of school children in Nigeria especially in Nigeria as a whole with the figures reaching to 20 million ( Unesco report). This is unacceptable and something strategic need to be done. . Participants agreed that despite the rebuttal by the federal government on the number of out of school children in Nigeria, the fact remains that school aged children between 6 years to 18 years are not enrolling and completing Basic and \Secondary Education in Nigeria with girls mostly affected.  
5. Amplified voices of the voices of the marginalized and vulnerable: Participants observed that though several platforms exist to help promote and increase the voices of the targeted margainalized groups towards achieving 12 years continued learning for women and children especially girls, and teachers, these communities of marginalized and vulnerable have not deliberately mobilized to use the available platforms to amplify their voices.
6. Low foot print of civil society at the state level to engage with government and demand for quality, inclusive and safe education: Participants observed with dismay the disappearing voices and activities of CSOs and Citizens in holding government to account at the states levels. This the participants observed as poor human and material resource capacity of CSOs and citizens to effectively engage policy makers.  

• Target beneficiaries like the teachers, students and pupils have not been deliberately mobilized to amplify their voices.
• 2. Education sector plans in some states are not implemented according to the plans whilst some proposed actions in the plans are not gender transformative.
• 3. Actual expenditure on education budget are very low compare to the amount committed.
• 4. Low foot print of civil society at the state level to engage with government and demand for quality, inclusive and safe education

Recommendation

Having made the above observations by the workshop participants from the states and Abuja, the following recommendations were arrived at:

1. Increase Education financing for Basic and Secondary Education: Education financing is to road map to achieving SDGs 4 education 2023. We demand that government at all levels in the subsequent budget circle of 2024 to increase the Education budget for basic and secondary education to between 15-20%  to meet the needs of women and children especially girls.
2. Monitor the use of approved and disbursed Basic and Secondary Education Budget. FAWE led Consortium should work with the states government to review their education sector to make it more gender responsive
3. Enforce the Universal Basic Education Act to the full: We demand that government to be more strategic and come up with a plan of action to address the menace of out of school children in Nigeria. Especially in accessing the universal basic Education Funds made available for infrastructure development for Basic Education;
4. We also call on government at the states level and the federal to make Senior Secondary Education free. This way, the country can effectively ensure lifelong learning for its citizen’s
5. Strengthened Capacity of CSOs and Citizens on public policy dialogues and engagement. : We call and challenge citizens especially at the grassroot to continuously build and improved on their capacity to engage. It is also a call to partners, to harness the opportunity and skills inherent in the CSOs through capacity building and mentorship to enable the CSOs and Citizens effective engage with government at all levels.

 Conclusion

The participant, appreciated the FAWE led consortium and the Gender at the Center Initiative (GCI) for providing them with the opportunity and considering them to be gender advocates and experts in their states and Nigeria as a whole. Participants also expressed satisfaction on the training received noting that, they are more equipped to advocate and scrutinize issues around Education plans and budgets, and commits to engage with relevant stakeholders in promoting a Gender Responsive Education Sector Plans (GRESP). Participants commits to support in cascading the training to other citizens and stakeholders at their various states and the FCT.

The under listed organizations participated in the three day’s work shop and has endorsed this communique as a working document.

1	CSACEFA NATIONAL
2	Forum for African Women Educationalist
3	Plan International Nigeria
4	FlexiSAF foundation
5	I Have Conscience Foundation
6	Building Blocks for Peace Foundation
7	Reachout Initiative for Vulnerable Africa Women
8	Children Impacts and Development Initiative
9	Daughters of Abraham Foundation
10	Humanitarian and Empowerment for Grassroots Initiatives
11	Mariam Ladi Yunusa Foundation (MLYF)
12	Teens and Nubile Club (TEENUB)
13	Fountain of Grace, Empowerment, Education and Development Foundation
14	Almajiri Child Rights Initiative
15	Odyssey Educational Foundation
16	Kairos Leadership and Educational Foundation (KLEF)
17	Skills Outside School Foundation
18	Ogedegede Community Development Foundation
19	Charles Okundili Strategy for Humanitarian Initiative (COSHI Foundation)
20	Aspire African Youth Empowerment Initiative
21	PIT TO PEAK FOUNDATION
22	Adda Girl Education Foundation
23	Fill and Feed a Soul Foundation

Chima Azubuike

Due to the continued absence of female Gombe students from school during mensuration, the Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All, has organised training for no fewer than 60 participants on the production of reusable pads.

PUNCH Health Wise reports that participants were drawn from schools within the metropolis and they include Arabic College I and II (Junior/Senior), Gombe Day Secondary Senior School Pilot and Inuwa Yahaya Demonstration School.

The State Coordinator of CSACEFA, Abubakar Hussaini, said the training was organised in commemoration of Global Action Week for Education, 2023, with support from Global Partnership for Education and Education OutLoud.

He explained that the training would bridge the needed gap in the availability of sanitary pads, caused by economic realities, adding that the materials are safe and could be sourced locally in the market.

He said, “We are going to teach the students how to make reusable pads and how to use it themselves. This is because we realised that mensuration makes some of them not to attend school and this is because of the economic situation of the country. So we felt that if they are taught how to use it, they can fix their menstrual issues. This will make the students to go to school and learn.”

On her part, Desk Officer, Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria project, Ministry of Education, Lami Garkuwa, expressed optimism that the training would increase class attendance and encourage menstrual hygiene amongst participants.

She disclosed that the 60 girls would serve as trainers to their other colleagues, adding, “The girls will use most of what they produce. They can sell and also use it to improve their economic situation instead of using the one that will make the toilet full. They can use it for three to six months, what they need to do is to wash and dry it before usage.”

Earlier this year, the former Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, disclosed that over 37 million girls and women cannot afford menstrual hygiene products, thus, are unable to safely manage their periods.

She noted that this limits their ability to study, work and live their lives normally.

The inability to afford menstrual hygiene products, experts say makes them resort to using cheaper, unhygienic alternatives such as tissue papers, rags and old newspapers which have been proven has harmful effects on a woman’s sexual reproductive health.

Such practices predispose them to increased risk for reproductive and urinary tract infections and in the long run, infertility and complications during childbirth

originally published by the Punch News paper

27th April 2023

The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) is to work with the Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA) on basic education delivery in the country.

The Executive Secretary of the commission, Dr Hamid Bobboyi, said this when he received the new CSACEFA Facilitating Committee/Board management in his office in Abuja on Friday.

Bobboyi said the coalition must step up its game in monitoring state government projects, saying this would drive education reforms to benefit Nigerians especially those living in the rural areas.

He commended the coalition for the critical role played in addressing some of the challenges of basic education leading to the development of the sector.

According to him, the challenges of basic education are enormous but besides the challenges, there is the synergy required by actors.

“I urge CSACEFA to expand its activities in the education space to make a difference in the lives of the children and the future of our country.

Dr Hammid Bobboyi

“We need to find a way to strengthen the partnerships with organisation like CSACEFA to foster educational development, so we must expand our collaborations,” he said.

The executive secretary blamed state governments for neglect of basic education, stressing that basic education constitutionally belonged to state.

‘“A lot of states don’t pay attention to what is required to develop basic education because during some of our visits, we see a lot of neglects by states.

“When you cannot compensate teachers adequately, they will not discharge their responsibilities because you need the teachers to function optimally to deliver education and moral life of the children.

“Stakeholders must function effectively to see that this happen. When a child spends six years in school and cannot read and write, then something is very wrong.

“So, all hands must be on deck to investigate projects approved but not executed because we need to make sure projects sponsored come out strong and well,” he added.

Also speaking, the National Moderator of the Coalition, Mr Duke Ogbureke called for more support in ensuring no child was left behind in accessing quality education.

Ogbureke said the coalition was looking forward to greater opportunities to collaborate with UBEC in all activities, especially in its third party collaboration for overall progress in the sector.

He expressed worry over the high number of out-of-school children in the country, saying if nothing was done; it could lead out-of-school children and youths merchant of terrorism

Stakeholders in the Education Sector in Oyo State on Wednesday July 14, 2021 at the instance of the Civil Society Action Coalition on Education For All (CSACEFA) conveyed a High-Level Education Policy Dialogue in Ibadan, at Ibadan Business School, Francis Okediji street, Bodija, Oyo State.

Hosted by the Oyo State Chapter of the Coalition, the Dialogue with the theme, ‘Strengthening Advocacy and Social Accountability’, was aimed at bridging the gaps that exist between the Civil Society Organisations and government at all levels in the planning, monitoring and review of education policies and programmes at states and national levels, with special focus on Oyo state.

Speaking to the objective of the dialogue, CSACEFA stated that the dialogue is aimed at, opening discussions for relevant stakeholders within the Education Sector with focus on Oyo State to share best practices investment in the Education Sector.

Providing CSACEFA Oyo the opportunity to present the impact of Education Out Loud project in Oyo State to the State government and other Partners.

Giving the Oyo State Government an ample opportunity to showcase her investment in Education Sector with focus on the girl child education using the GPE platforms till date

Establishing a platform for continued policy dialogue between the Civil Society Organisation and government on education matters at the State level

Reviewing CSOs engagement in the Local Education group and GPE implementation process in the State as well as charting a way forward on CSOs participation in the development of Education policies and projects in the State.

Relevant stakeholders within the Education Sector converged such as CSACEFA members & other CSOs, DAWN Commission, State Actors (SMoE, SUBEB, MEBP, MoYS, MoWASI etc) Media officials, Education related Labour Unions, the Ag. Policy Advisor, National Moderator, the International Program Manager of Education Out Loud (EOL) Project, Mr Richard Olong and other too numerous stakeholders.