Nasarawa waives school fees in exchange for learning aids

Council education authorities in Nasarawa state have signed agreement with donors to waive fees of orphans and vulnerable children in exchange for donors investing in teaching and learning aids. In one agreement with the nonprofit Association for the Advancement of Women Nigeria (ASSAWIN), which implements the project Sustainable Mechanism for Improving Livelihood and Household Empowerment […]

Council education authorities in Nasarawa state have signed agreement with donors to waive fees of orphans and vulnerable children in exchange for donors investing in teaching and learning aids.

In one agreement with the nonprofit Association for the Advancement of Women Nigeria (ASSAWIN), which implements the project Sustainable Mechanism for Improving Livelihood and Household Empowerment (SMILE) in Keffi, ASSAWIN has provided desks and chairs for two primary schools in Keffi.

In exchange, authorities will waive all fees and charges for 422 orphans and vulnerable children enrolled under the SMILE project.

ASSAWIN donated 78 three-in-one desks and chairs in September to enable waiver for 290 orphans and vulnerable children enrolled in two schools in Yelwa 1 and 2 in Keffi.

Two more schools are to be reached in the course of the project.

It came after assessment showed nearly six in 10 children in both schools sit on the floor during classes.

Yelwa 1 has more than 2,000 pupils and Yelwa 2 has around 867 pupils.

Total education support for OVC in Keffi targets 2,161 children to create awareness, promote school enrolment, re-enrol school dropouts, as well as assess education performance and advocate for girl child education, said ASSAWIN programme manager Chinelo Amaechina.

The project is funded by CRS-Nigeria, ActionAids Nigeria and Welsat, with support from US Agency for International Development.