TITLE: EDUCATION ADVOCACY COALITION PUSHES FOR GENDER-RESPONSIVE EDUCATION PLAN IN ADAMAWA

Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria - June 29, 2024 – 

A coalition of education stakeholders in Adamawa State is calling for a more gender-responsive and inclusive Education Sector Plan (ESP) for the state. The coalition, comprising representatives from the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), School Based Management Committees (SBMCs), Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), and the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), recently concluded a series of advocacy visits to relevant government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).

This advocacy push comes on the heels of a two-day awareness-raising and advocacy planning session organized by the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) Nigeria, with support from the Plan International EU-INTPA Project. The session equipped the coalition members with knowledge on Gender-Responsive Education and Sector Planning (GRESP) and empowered them to advocate for an ESP that addresses the specific needs of girls and marginalized groups.

"The current education sector plan in Adamawa State does not adequately consider the challenges faced by girls and other vulnerable learners," said Dr. Hadiza Dauda, spokesperson for the coalition. ". She called for a holistic review of the ESP, demanding the inclusion of a wider range of stakeholders and partners in the review process."

The coalition specifically advocated for the following:

A comprehensive review of the Adamawa State ESP: This review should involve a thorough assessment of the plan's effectiveness in promoting gender equality and inclusion in education.

Increased focus on girls' education: The revised ESP should prioritize strategies to address issues like enrollment rates for girls, high dropout rates, and violence against girls in schools.

Inclusion of marginalized groups: The review process should actively involve representatives from various stakeholder groups, including CSOs/NGOs, teachers, parents, students with disabilities, and community leaders.

The advocacy visits targeted key MDAs like the Adamawa State Ministry of Education, the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), the State Board for Mass Education, and the Post Primary School Management Board. The coalition expressed optimism that their message resonated with government officials and that a more inclusive and equitable ESP will be developed for Adamawa State.