The following problems in the community and with the infrastructure has an impact on local education in Nigeria.
Children Working
Church Schools
Proximity of Schools
Lack of Investment
Cultural Bias
Security At School
Lack of Clean Drinking Water
Reliable Source of Electricity
Shortage of Public Resources
Children Working
Northern Nigeria's economy is primarily based on agriculture, where subsistence farmers eke out a meager existence. Produce that is over and above what is needed by the family is sold in markets or trucked to other areas of Nigeria. Many children do not attend school because their labor is needed to assist with planting, harvesting, and selling of produce to bring additional income into the family.
Many schools in Nigeria and Africa in general are linked to churches and denominations. This is due to the fact that historically churches pioneered education by building schools and other educational institutions. Partnering with existing governing bodies such as dignitaries, clergy and state representatives are a crucial part of being able to help. Oct 2018 - Dedication Day Jun 2019 - Dedication of Kogum River Renovation Jun 2019 - Well Dedication Kogum River Nov 2019 - Student's Day at Kafanchan Junior/Secondary School
Proximity of Schools
Many children live a distance from the nearest school. As there is no current system of universal transportation to schools, children must walk, often rising early to do so and traveling hours to get to school. Some parents can bring their children and some schools may provide a van, but a universal, scheduled and managed system in not in place. The region is not served by reliable public transportation, therefore to enable students who live at a distance from the school, AEP has purchased a Toyota van (their version of a school bus) to transport students and some teachers to the school.
In Nigeria, basic education rates are still low compared to other Sub-Saharan countries. The result of under investment is that most schools are overcrowded with poor resources. The future success of Nigeria as a nation makes it imperative that the youth of Nigeria have access to good educational opportunities. This is especially true in the North, where some historic and contemporary issues have inhibited access to education. We invite you to become become a partner with us and our Nigerian partners to help in addressing these problems, through your financial support.
Another cause of low enrollment, especially in the North, is cultural bias. Many parents choose not to send their children, especially girls, to school. Girls’ lives are often directed by deeply ingrained cultural values and include early, pre-arranged marriages.
For the security of the school and its adjoining property, AEP provided funds for a perimeter wall around the whole property. The wall was constructed of reinforced concrete blocks to a height of 8 feet and was completed in 2017.
The school needs a steady supply of clean water. A borehole (well) has been dug for this purpose. The cost of this borehole has been shared between the school and the adjacent Graceland Hospital, water will be piped from this borehole to both facilities.
The electricity supply is erratic and unreliable, to overcome this problem AEP has set aside funds for solar panels to ensure a steady supply of power for the school. This is especially important for the computer and science labs which require air conditioning. The investigation of the quality and availability of the panels will take place to determine feasibility.
Graceland International Hospital, next to the school, will provide not only basic medical care but surgery and maternity services as well. Being branded under the school name will strengthen the connection between medical care and education. Students from the school will be able to get first-hand experience in the medical fields by walking through the gate.
