Stakeholders make case for transformative education as FAWE commemorates GAWE 2024
Stakeholders in education sector have made case for transformative education as one of the potent and viable solutions that will foster positive change and address the litany of societal challenges including gender imbalances, conflicts, inequitable distribution of resources, corruption etc.
The stakeholders made the position during the commemoration of Global Action Week for Education (GAWE) 2024 organized by the Forum for Women Educationalist (FAWE) Nigeria with support from PLAN International EU-INTPA project on strengthening civil society to enhance education for all in northern Nigeria in Yola on Thursday.
In his brief overview of FAWE and the international day of education, Ibrahim Bello, education officer FAWE, Nigeria said, the focus of the project is to enhance the capacity of civil society actors to be able to engage government stakeholders on gender responsive, transformative and inclusive education sector planning as well as tsangaya education reformation.
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He noted that the two year project is being implemented in Sokoto and Adamawa States adding that since inception, the project has made appreciable successes in Adamawa State by building capacities of CSOs to be able to engage the government in a robust and sustainable manner.
He noted that part of the objectives of the global action week for education with the theme, transformative education is to amplify diverse perspectives on how the sector could be improved and to ensure that the government is held accountable on the far reaching reforms it promises to uphold in the sector and to ensure a holistic transformation of the education sector.
He noted that one issue that brought the challenges of education to the fore was the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic which amplified the issues facing the sector to a significant level such as WASH issues, gender imbalances, discrimination etc.
In her lead paper presentation, Dr. Maimuna Gambo Hammawa, a lecturer with FCE Yola on the role of transformative education in driving social justice, peace, gender equality and sustainable development said, in view of the challenges facing education, there was a compelling need to apply suitable economic instruments to regularize the society for a sustainable and all encompassing development.
She noted that in such circumstances, transformative education approach will come handy because it provides teaching and learning that empowers students to critically analyse and challenge existing viewpoints, beliefs and systems.
She noted that the goal of transformative education is critical to the promotion of social justice because it develops critical thinking and awareness of social inequalities, encourage active citizen engagement in advocating for change, and challenges oppressive systems and structures.
Hammawa added that transformative education also contributes to peace in societies by fostering empathy and understanding amongst diverse groups, teaches conflict resolution and non violent communication skills, emphasizes the interconnectedness and interdependence of global issues.
She noted that transformative education also addresses other wide range of social issues including gender inequalities and enhances sustainable development.
The session which featured panel discussions with critical stakeholders also identified gaps and proffer ways forward on how the sector can be better funded, how curriculum can be tinkered to suit the socio cultural challenges of different societies and cultures and how the scarce resources in the sector can be frugally managed for optimal impact.
