‘Successes, challenges, pathways of GPE in Lamurde as project winds up’
By Mohd Ismail
As the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) funded programme implemented by UNICEF winds down in Adamawa State, stakeholders in Lamurde Local Government Area have highlighted remarkable progress in bridging the education gap for out-of-school children, while also stressing the need for sustained community involvement to consolidate the gains.
Abdullahi Lawan a learning facilitator at Mallam Sani Tsangaya center in Lamurde local government, described the intervention as “impactful,” noting that it has transformed the lives of thousands of children previously excluded from formal learning opportunities.
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“Before the project, many of these children did not even know the alphabet or basic numeracy. But today, because of the initiative, they can read, write, and even express themselves. Beyond academics, they have also benefited from lessons on hygiene, social behaviour, and positive adaptation,” he said.
According to him, the program in Lamurde, established 60 learning centers, strategically spread across different communities. These centres currently serve over 2,500 learners, with a minimum of 45 children per centre. According to Lawan, the initiative drastically reduced the number of out-of-school children in the area estimated to be around 7,000 children.
“These were children who were always on the streets. Now they can sit in class, learn at their own pace, and develop a sense of belonging,” he added.
Lawan added that the project also invested in training community-based facilitators who conduct lessons at least three times a week.
“This approach ensured that teachers were not outsiders but members of the communities themselves, a model that has proved critical for ownership and sustainability,” he added.
According to the learning facilitator despite achievements, the programme has grappled with significant challenges. Chief among them poverty, which often compels parents to prioritize survival over education.
“Caregivers frequently complain of hunger. Some send their children to hawk or assist on farms during the rainy season instead of attending classes.
“These economic realities sometimes affect attendance, but UNICEF and local facilitators have addressed this by conducting community sensitization campaigns. Religious and traditional leaders have also been instrumental, encouraging parents during gatherings and prayers to send their children to school.
“The passion of community leaders is very encouraging. In some cases, if a child is absent, local leaders ensure the child is brought back to class,” he said.
With the GPE project nearing its end, concerns about sustaining the project becomes a fundamental issue. But reacting Lawan stressed that embedding ownership within the community was a deliberate strategy to ensure sustainability ab initio.
“The facilitators are from the same communities, and the centres are often hosted within familiar spaces. So even if UNICEF withdraws, the trained teachers, the learners, and the structures remain. Learning will not stop because it is now part of the community,” he added.
He noted that plans are also underway to transition learners from non-formal centres into the formal school system. According to Lawan, discussions with education secretaries, area officers, and community leaders are ongoing to facilitate the integration.
“We intend to provide uniforms, learning materials, and other scholastic support so that these children can remain in school,” he said.
Despite persistent challenges, the GPE-UNICEF project in Lamurde stands as a model for reducing the out-of-school children crisis in Adamawa State. From zero literacy to thousands of learners now able to read and write, the transformation is evident. With palpable improvements like the provision of shelters to provide a conducive atmosphere for learning, the model has addressed a major and fundamental concern.
Lawan noted that with continued commitment from parents, local leaders, and government authorities, the community can build on the foundation already laid.
“This initiative has shown us that education is possible even in the hardest conditions. What remains is for all of us to ensure the journey continues, with or without external funding,” he added.
Incorporation of feeding will enhance sustainability – Mallam Mustapha Abdullahi
But for Mallam Mustapha Abdullahi, an operator of a major tsangaya Islamic school system with over 100 pupils, sustainability will be underpinned by the incorporation of a feeding system.
“Most of our pupils have to go out and beg for food within our communities. That is a major distraction especially considering today’s realities. Many children will find it difficult to cope with the exigency of combining learning with the rudiments of sourcing for food. I urged the government to compliment the efforts through feeding programs,” he said.
Abdullahi nevertheless lauded the project saying its impact can not be overemphasized adding that it is one of the best strides in fast tracking education in recent times.
“This program has enabled hundreds of my pupils who can not read or write in English to be able to do so. Coupled with that is the provision of a shelter which created a conducive learning atmosphere. We’re grateful with this project as it has improved the lot of our pupils,”
Some of the pupils interviewed also expressed great joy as they said before enrollment they could not read or write but a test carried out by reporters on most of the students indicated that they have learnt tremendously as some of them could read, write and spell three to four letter words.
