The average pupil-teacher ratio in North-eath is 124 to 1- UNICEF

By Mohammad Maitela, Yobe.

The United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said that the average pupil-teacher ratio in North-east is 124 to 1, and only 29 percent of schools in the region have teachers with the minimum qualification as almost half of all schools need rehabilitation. 

The International Organization said that, only 47 percent of schools in Borno have furniture with the lower proportions, in Yobe 32, and Adamawa 26. While in terms of learning materials, said that, in Adamawa, only 30 percent of schools have adequate learning materials for the pupils with the lower proportions, Borno 26 and Yobe 25 respectably. 

The UBICEF made this known during a one- day media dialogue and field trip with education correspondent from the Borno, Adamawa and Yobe on Wednesday, in Maiduguri. 

The dialogue was organised by the Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The dialogue took place at Amada International Hotel, Maiduguri, Borno state capital aimed to amplify the achievements made in the education sector.

In her welcome address, the UNICEF chief of Maiduguri Field Office, Phuong T. Nguyen, said "it is therefore little wonder that according to the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS 2021), less than half of children, which is  48.6 per cent complete their primary school education in North-east Nigeria.

Mrs T. Nguyen added that the media dialogue is to share the achievements made in the education sector in the North- east BAY states and  stressed that one  major accomplishment is the teachers’ training programme of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) Accelerated Funding (AF) project.

The Field Officer added that it is the initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) and the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).

She said the training programme has supported over 18,000 unqualified teachers  working  in North-east Nigeria to study and pass the TRCN’s qualifying examination.

“At least 1 million girls and boys will benefit as these newly certified teachers return to their classrooms equipped with modern and effective teaching methods, including the skills to provide gender-sensitive and psychosocial support to learners.” She said.