Benue State has experienced unprecedented insurgency in the past year with an increasing number of internally displaced (IDP) families seeking refuge in temporary camps. The most at-risk and vulnerable group in these camps are school-age children. The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) report (April, 2018) lists 8,000 ID Children at RCM Daudu Camp. This project will provide community-based educational services and teachers' training on social skills to support children living with trauma.
The Emergency Education Plan (EEP) caters to the lack of educational services for internally displaced children and support for various psycho-social traumas such as sexual violence, over-crowding and poor sanitation associated with living in makeshift settlements. Social services in the host communities are also overstretched by the influx of IDPs, many of whom are using community facilities and services like schooling, water and sanitation and health.
The overarching goal of the EEP is to ensure that internally displaced children (IDC) in Benue State, will continue to access educational services regardless of their location or living conditions. This plan has the following components: i. Baseline Data Collection ii. Training of Providers iii. Implementation iv. Monitoring and Evaluation The focus of this plan is to address the breakdown of access to educational services for children in IDP camps.
The results from the needs assessment will allow us to explore other strategic models. This study will contribute fresh information and help aid agencies and donors to have background information for their interventions. This project will improve the literacy level of the IDP children and improve school enrollment and retention. Teachers' training on how to serve all children equitably: marginalized or disabled, would also improve teacher development, safe schools and child protection.
