Arts/Literary
Major Challenges Nigerian Children Faced In 2020
One of the major challenges that affected children in 2020 was the outbreak of Corona virus. The COVID-19 pandemics, is a new virus, which had caused huge havoc across the globe.
While the coronavirus forced schools globally to switch to online learning, in developing countries like Nigeria, millions of children without remote access were left behind.
On 19 March,2020,the Federal Ministry of Education approved school closures in response to the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic revolutionised digital and online education globally but children in Nigerian government schools, rural and underserved communities were left behind as they are not equipped to adapt or transit to the new methods of learning.
The pandemic has unmasked substantial inequities in the education sector. One major issue that may stem from this inequality is that these children who cannot keep up with their peers because of inaccessibility to digital tools may never catch up and will continue to feel the effect of the gap long after the pandemic is over.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continued to cause disruption across the globe, children and young people were joined by stars and leaders to recreate a better post-pandemic world on World’s Children’s Day, 20 November 2020 organized by UNICEF.
UNICEF stated that people all over the world should volunteer with them to help them reach the children and young people in greatest need. They enjoined people to help change the world for children.
They encouraged children and young people to speak out by voicing their problems to make a difference and take a stand.
Here in Rivers State, as a follow up, the Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike directed that state-owned broadcast stations through the Rivers State Ministry of Education commence online learning of different subjects by pupils and students throughout the lockdown, also state-owned higher institutions to commence the use of virtual classrooms.
It was a step in the right direction, but there were challenges experienced by the children and young people.
One, some parts of the state and many communities lacked regular electricity supply that meant that children could not follow the curriculum during the coronavirus crisis .
For the higher institutions, many suffered modem malfunctions, partial network receptions and laptop crash which led to poor learning quality.
Another challenge that affected children in 2020, is the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria. According to reports, one in every five of the world’s out-of-school children is in Nigeria. About 10.5 to 13.2 million of the country’s children aged 5-14 years are not in school. This is the highest in the world. Most of these children are out of school while some have never been to school.
Nigerian children are also vulnerable to a wide range of abuses and harmful traditional practices. Till date, only 23 of 36 states have adopted the National legal framework for child protection, A Child Rights Act 2003.
A recent survey showed that 6 out of 10 children reported have suffered one or more forms of violence before reaching 18 years of age with 70 percent of those experiencing multiple accidents of violence. The country has the highest number of child brides in Africa.
By: Ibinabo Ogolo
Social/Kiddies
Children’s Day: The Need To Celebrate Them
Social/Kiddies
Need For Girl-Child Education In Society
Girl-child education is a way by which a girl- child is being exposed through formal education for proper education.
It is a process whereby a girl-child is being exposed to some certain things according to “teachmit@wp”.
Girl-child education refers to the aspect of education that ends at developing the skills and knowledge of girls and women no matter their backgrounds.
Some parents think that educating a girl- child is wasting of their resources. No. When a female child is educated, it gives her that respect even the husband cannot treat her anyhow because he will know her worth.
The importance of educating the girl- child cannot be overemphasised. It helps to empower the country and makes them have a better life. Once they are educated, they realise the importance of exhibiting good hygiene habits.
It may interest you to know that when a girl-child is educated, she has a sense of belonging in the society. In Nigeria nowadays, they have the potential of becoming governors, chairmen of local government areas, among others.
The tendency of taking cognisance of the importance of reduction in child bearing is high. When a woman is educated, the level in which she will give birth will reduce considering the dangers inherent.
Firstly, she will calculate herself and know when to conceive, although with the consent of her husband and the numbers of children she wants.
A girl who is educated will know how to educate her children properly. She will be of good benefits to the family.
Truly, a girl who is not properly educated will suffer lack of knowledge, fall into early marriage which will lead into early pregnancy. Some of these can cause domestic violence.
Women need education because without proper knowledge, a woman cannot run her home properly. A woman that is educated leads her home aright.
Some men use and take advantage of uneducated women by rendering all kinds of abuses on them, some rape their wives in course of making love and others insults their wives in public all because there is no education. In life, males and females should be educated without discrimination.
Furthermore, educating a girl-child is like investing in a big business that one will not run into a loss.
According to Dr Shaifali, girls’ education is like sowing the seed which gives rise to a revitalised, cheerful and full-grown family plants.
She also said educated women have the capacity to bring socio- economic changes.
Growing up from the family of three, my father told me that he was not ready to train a female child and when I asked why, he said: ” because when you will grow and become great, then, a man will come from nowhere and marry you and all my money will be wasted. When you marry, your name will be changed that means all your riches and wealth will become your husband’s own because you people are one”.
Frankly, I was very bitter with myself and I started questioning God that why was I not created as man, but I took it upon myself that weather the devil likes it or not, I will prove my father wrong by going to school and I will show the difference.
As parents when training children we should not think less of any child because every child is important and have value.
Every child is a blessing from God. This is a clarion call to all men of our present society to accord their wives the respect they deserve. A man can develop his wife after marriage.
Education plays an important role in the life of a girl-child. Let every girl-child be educated. The government should provide the society with basic amenities such as good schools that are well-equipped.
Parents from time to time should be re-oriented in this regard taking cognisance of the importance of developing the girl-child. None should be misled by saying that the girl-child need not attend formal education.
Since some parents do not have the wherewithal to sponsor their children, governments at all levels should introduce free education to give room for equal opportunity. Bursary payment should be re-introduced in all higher educational institutions.
Education is the bedrock of any society therefore women education cannot end in the kitchen.
Princess Npapa
Princess Npapa is a student of Pan Africa Institute of Management and Technology.
Social/Kiddies
Celebrating Woman As An Icon Of Strength
A woman is a dynamic multifaceted individual who embodies resilience, courage and determination.
She is a game changer and a force to be reckon with, a confidant empowered, supportive, adaptable and inspirational.
Many had asked why women are being celebrated even as recorded in calendar so frequently unlike men and I said, a woman being multifaceted and embodies resilience and determination is worth being celebrated unlike in the 80s when women were meant to understand that their place was in the kitchen of their husbands’ houses.
What an amazing level of development where women can choose a career and work on themselves and know that there is more to life than being in the kitchen and ending up in a man’s house with nothing to show for it.
Women are the strongest versions of the gender of humans in the world even in their silence, women hold a depth of emotions, questions and unspoken thoughts. Their smiles often conceal their true feelings, masking their fears, doubts and desires.
Despite these challenges, women continue to rise above, shattering glass ceilings and pushing boundaries.
Today innovative, women are enterprenuers, leaders, and change agents. Inspiring women like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Chimamanda Adichie and many others have paved the way for future generation, their achievements serve as testaments to women’s strength, resilience and capabilities.
The calendar tell us how unique the woman is and her significance in the home and society at large. As a woman, she holds power and I celebrate every woman out there in the world irrespective of how you may have fallen, you shall rise above the challenges, support one another and celebrate collective strength and resilience.
Woman as an icon of strength is not just about individual achievements but creating supportive networks, uplifting others and celebrating collective success, defying expectations and redefining what it means to be a strong woman.
The strength and bravery of women are worthy of celebration by the entire world as none is unique as the epitome of nation builders, character molders and pacesetters not just in their family but to the society at large.
A woman is a selfless mother, lover and care giver to her family, a daughter who supports her parents, as a sister’s unshakeable bond with her siblings and a friends unconditional empathy and understanding.
These acts of kindness and love are not most times talked about but hold families and communities together and bonding strong women are powerful beings who have impacted the society, shaping the foundation of the world from the 80s to date, I personally want to celebrate all the icons of strength who had fought and are still fighting , that our voices as women are heard even unto the ends of time.
I celebrate you all amazing women for standing strong and paving ways for the future generation for equality, justice and human rights. To the rising child, teenager and adults who happen to be a ‘woman’, I celebrate our collective efforts, our strength in helping one another to rise, irrespective of our differences in our backgrounds.
We are super humans, unique beings, no wonder the Bible acknowledges the importance of our strength. Therefore, let’s celebrate every woman out there.
Kate Chisom Isiocha
Isiocha, is a student of Temple Gate Polytechnic.
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