A coalition of five Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) under the auspices of the Education Champion Network (ECN) has decried the falling standard of education in the North East, particularly Adamawa state. They are calling for concerted action to stop the drift.
The Organizations which include ACE Charity, African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Center LSD), Legal Defense for Assistant Project (LEDAP), The Inclusion Project (TIP) and Sustainable Collective Advocacy for Africa Development Initiative (SCAAD Initiative) were supported by Malala Fund.
The Education Champions Network (ECN) is a global network of Champions advocating for girl child education and sees a situation in which all Nigeria women and girls, particularly the most vulnerable, have access to 12 years of free, safe, quality education.
Reading a communique presented by the coalition at a press conference in Yola, spokesperson of the group, Hassana Shuaibu said the communique will serve as the CSOs manifesto for political candidates ahead of the 2023 general elections in Adamawa State.
Shuaibu noted that records have shown that not only is the standard of education falling but also the rate of out-of-school children, particularly the girl child, is on the rise.
The education champion noted that as a result of the challenge, Nigeria is deep-seated in conflicts and violence covering all the geopolitical zones of the country from Boko Haram, banditry, farmer-herded clashes and other criminal elements.
The CSOs in a ten point demand urged the governments to adopt far reaching measures for the betterment of education.
This is Emmanuella Nwahiri, a women rights campaigner with what is required from the government.
Others recommendations are that the government should ensure schools are truly free for 12 years by eliminating hidden fees such as education levies, PTA fees, and exam fees, provide quality education for all children, provide educational resources and make schools safe amongst many other demands.
