Report of Sensitizationsin Abuja, Kaduna, Kano

Jigawa, Lagos, Kwara and Enugu

Akin Jimoh

The series of one-day sensitization of 167 education stakeholders comprising of 134 journalists and 33 representatives from the Civil Society Organisations in six ESSPIN states and the FCT began on Monday July 30, 2012 in Abuja and ended in Enugu on Thursday, September 13, 2012

Introduction

Graphical SummaryDate Location Total No of

participantsNo of Organizers

(ESSPIN and DEVCOMS)

No from CSOs No of Journalists Assessment formSubmitted

Applications received

July 30, 2012 Nigerlink Hotel Abuja 29 6 2 21 18 15

July 31, 2012 NUJ Press Centre, Kaduna State

28 5 4 19 16 6

August 1, 2012 Mambaya House Kano State

21 3 5 13 12 11

August 2, 2012 SLGP Jigawa State 22 3 7 12 11 13

August 8, 2012 DevComs office Lagos State

32 4 6 22 18 17

August 14, 2012 Rehoboth Hotel Kwara State

37 5 8 24 23 21

September 13, 2012 Bayview Hotel Enugu State

28 4 1 23 20 20

Total at Sensitization All locations 197 30 33 134 118 103

167

Total expected 161 140

To create awareness about Journalism Development Programme (JDP)

To assess the knowledge gap in education reporting

To engage journalists in the journey of building citizens that will welcome and support initiatives to reform education sector in Nigeria

Purpose of the Sensitization

The sensitization in Abuja was held on July 30, 2012 at Nigerlink Hotel, Zone 4, Wuse, Abuja.

A total of 29 participants attended the sensitization including 21 journalists

The total participants at the sensitization exceeded the 23 expected number of participants by six

Sensitization in Abuja

 Cross section of journalist during the sensitization in abuja

How is ESSPIN working to improve policies?

Are we really getting value for money paid in private schools?

Question Raised in Abuja

ESSPIN works to improve policies through surveys, interaction with policy makers, display of best practices etc.

If nothing is done by the stakeholders (media, CSOs etc) to make government revamp public schools, the private schools will continue to extort the public.

Responses/Contributions

The sensitization in Kaduna was held on Tuesday July 31, 2012 at NUJ press centre, Kaduna

There were 28 participants in attendance - 19 journalists and 9 participants from CSOs

The total participants at the sensitization exceeded the 23 expected number of participants by 5.

Sensitization in Kaduna

Cross section of journalist during the sensitization in kaduna

The minimum qualification for teaching used to be NCE, is it still the same?

How does ESSPIN impact on the National Training Institute (NTI)?

What are the challenges ESSPIN faces in the state?

Questions Raised in Kaduna

The minimum qualification is still NCE but SSCE gradates still teach

ESSPIN showcase good practices and does not affect how NTI is run.

One challenge faced is getting local government buy in. In addition, money from government, MDG not getting to schools.

Response

The sensitization in Kano was held on Wednesday 1st August, 2012 at Centre for Democratic Research and Training, Mambaya House, Kano State

There were 21 participants in attendance - 13 journalists and 8 representatives from DevComs, ESSPIN and other CSOs in Kano State.

Sensitization in Kano

Cross section of journalists during the sensitization in kano

Do you think they will accept western education into Tsangaya education

What measures are being taken by

journalists to ensure sustainability

If the government don’t scale up the process, what will be the situation?

How does ESSPIN monitor investments?

Questions Raised in Kano

The trained teachers are members of the

communities appointed by the community

members.

ESSPIN is trying to involve the government to

take over the initiative when it leaves

It is better to start first then we can talk of scaling

up

Monitoring is the essence of the SBMC. It is better

for the community to own the project

Response

The sensitization in Jigawa was held on Thursday 2nd August, 2012 at SLGP office, Nuhu Muhammad Sanusi Way, Dutse, Jigawa State.

The total number of participants who attended the sensitization was 22

This number includes twelve journalists, seven representatives of CSOs in Jigawa.

Sensitization in Jigawa

Cross section of journalists during the sensitization in Jigawa

Why are teachers in Jigawa not qualified?

Questions Raised

Some of the pillars of the Greek Temple are neglected.

Attention is focused on the 6th pillar (infrastructure

improvement) while the first to 5th pillars are ignored. The

1st to 5th pillars are as follows: Head Teacher Development,

Teacher Development, School Development Plans,

Development of SBMCs and inclusive practices.

However, competence is not qualification. Unqualified

teachers are being sent to the college of education in the

State

Response

The sensitization in Lagos was held on Wednesday August 8, 2012 at DevComs Office, Surulere Lagos

A total of 32 participants attended the sensitization including 22 journalists, 6 participants from CSOs in Lagos and 4 participants from ESSPIN and DevComs Network.

Sensitization in Lagos

Cross section of journalists during sensitization in Lagos

Is there a way to help journalists push out stories killed in the newsroom?

Can one make a leaving from online means of disseminating news?

Questions Raised

The Editor of Total Education, a newspaper

dedicated to education reporting said his medium

will publish any stories rejected in other

newsrooms. The use of social medium is also

very important in news dissemination.

Bloggers can make money from adverts if they

have many people following their page.

Responses/Contributions

The sensitization in Kwara was held on Tuesday

August 14, 2012 at Rehoboth hotel, Tanke Ilorin

It was gathered that a total of 37 participants

attended the sensitization including 24 journalists,

8 participants from CSOs in Ilorin and 5

participants from ESSPIN and DevComs Network.

Sensitization in Ilorin, Kwara State

Akin Jimoh making a presentation during sensitization in illorin

Who are QABs? Are they not government officials?

What is the impact on students as there are mass

failure in WAEC and NECO despite ESSPIN’s effort to

have better teachers and infrastructures?

Is ESSPIN looking into the area of examining body

and government?

Why do Journalists fail to use stories from CSOs

Questions Raised in Ilorin

QABs are saddled with the responsibilities of inspecting schools and have nothing to do with the government.

ESSPIN does not work with examination bodies. They are mostly concerned with primary education

One or two cases of not using stories by CSOs should not be allowed to give negative perception about the media.

Responses/Contributions

It was held on Thursday 13th September, 2012 at

Bayview Resorts and Hotels Enugu

A total of 28 participants attended the

sensitization including 23 journalists, one

participant from CSO (Mewood) in Enugu and 4

participants from ESSPIN and DevComs

Sensitization in Enugu

Cross-section of journalists during the sensitization in Enugu

Why was Udi adopted as the pilot local government? Is it because the government came from there?

What if the government have a better idea and decide to follow it?

How will ESSPIN sustain their efforts beyond 2014.

Questions Raised

Udi was adopted based on research conducted.

ESSPIN offers ideas and does not compel the government to do what it proposes

Government needs to use the state money to fund education in the state.

Responses/Contributions

Abuja: Some private schools in Abuja where parents pay as much as

N500,000 don’t have good teachers.

It was gathered that some parents in Kaduna have moved their children from private schools to public schools because of the quality in the public schools

Participants’ knowledge of social media is not sufficient. The participants requested for training on the use of social media.

CSACEFA representative says the problem in education is not the government but the problem of the stakeholders who should be concerned with how government policies are implemented.

CSACEFA representative commends the toilet and infrastructure in Abia despite collecting 1million naira.

Findings

Kaduna

According to Kaduna STL, there was hardly any difference between qualified and unqualified teachers when assessed.

ESSPIN supports 482 public schools out of over 4000 public schools in Kaduna.

The average total score of grade 4 pupils in Literacy, Math, Applied Literacy and Applied Maths was 12.81%.

83.6% of teachers in Kaduna scored <25% total test score when assessed.

There is a lackadaisical attitude towards public schools because people concerned send their wards to private schools.

Findings

Kano

There is a need for Schools to be consulted whenever government is planning its budget for education.

ESSPIN is working in 3 LGEAs in Kano State as pilot.

School infrastructural improvement can be achieved when government provide funds for School-based management committees to be able.

IQTE in Kano is accepted in kano communities because members of the communities appoint the teachers themselves.

Kano State government has committed 60 million naira to the project this year

Findings

Jigawa

Education reports are scarce in Jigawa – Alhaji Kalli A. Kori

Jigawa is sending unqualified teachers to the college of education in the state

Some teachers who teach in Jigawa may not be qualified but competent

Jigawa is operating in 198 pilot schools which equals 25% of 9 LGEAs

1380 teachers’ capacity has been built by ESSPIN

FINDINGS

Lagos

Journalists confirm that some stories are killed in the newsroom and want avenue to push them out

Number of journalist who use blog are very few just 2 out of the total participants

Some pupils in Lagos face a lot of challenges getting to school on water

Journalists were moved after watching ESSPIN documentary on the state of education in Lagos and vowed to be more investigative and ‘pushy’ when reporting education.

Stories about decay in education can be done in a subtle way without being confrontational

It is not wise to discuss with policy makers about a decay before speaking with the people affected, i.e the people affected should be approached first before policy makers

FINDINGS

Kwara

Funding QAB for better school inspections is a challenge in Kwara state

Supporting formation and funding of SBMC for greater accountability is also a challenge in Kwara

Strengthening government / CSO partnership is a challenge in Kwara

CSOs and Media have not been working together very well as the CSO representatives accused the media of not using their stories

ESSPIN works in 4 pilot LGEAs in Kwara State

Findings

Enugu

The challenges of journalists in the state make it difficult for journalists to write good investigative stories

Journalists question the adoption of UDI by ESSPIN as its pilot LGA claiming that it is the governors’ town.

Journalists expressed worries that improving education standard in a particular LGA may create gaps among the students. Resulting in a situation where pupils in a LGA doing better than the others

It was gathered that ESSPIN gives advice to the government and does not compel or impose its ideas on government.

It is essential for state governments to use their own resources to improve education standard in their states

Findings

Thanks for listening