From Aviashima Toom, Makurdi.
The Benue State Universal Basic Education (Subeb), in partnership with UNICEF through the State Ministry of Education set up temporary classes for children in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in makurdi
The UNICEF desk officer, Mr. James Iorfar, made the disclosure in an interview with National Daily in makurdi recently. Mr Iorfar, who is also Deputy Director of pre-primary education with SUBEB said that the measure was part of UNICEF’s effort to ensure that children in the IDPs camps continued with their learning as if it where in their normal classes.
He said in view of the foregoing, UNICEF in collaboration with state universal basic education through the support of Benue State Ministry of Education enrolled over 557 children in the international market and Wadata IDPs camps for the programme, adding that more children were coming for enrollment for the programme.
He noted that as part of its responsibility unicef provided instructional materials such as chalk bords, text and exercise books, pencils and other educational materials for the children in both the international market and Wadata camp, to help facilitate their learning.
He commended unicef for their timely responds in ensuring that children in the IDPs camp continued with learning as if it where in their normal class, adding that a situation that has added value in the lives of the children.
Mr. Iorfar informed that 5 volunteer teachers selected from the Ministry of education amongst whom are Dominic Iorlaha, patience Adzu, Ngunan Ahile and two others to teach the IDPs in the camp which according to him yielded huge success.
Also commending UNICEF effort of setting up a school camp for children at the IDPs camp, Coordinator State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Mr. Boniface Ortese said the gesture has restored hope to the children, saying a good number of them were happy seen themselves been learning again.
He thanked UNICEF for their support during period of the camp and urged them to continue to render humanitarian support to society. He however called on other spirited institutions to emulate unicef gesture for the wellbeing of the society.