It is a fact that a lot of children in underprivileged communities attend school in un-conducive learning environments. Children attend schools without toilets, without running water, and in rundown dilapidated buildings with no shelter that befits a learning ambience.
Adopt a School Initiative (ASI) is a brain child from the Zeitgeist Aesthetics virtual chat room. ASI is targeted towards connecting schools to concerned individuals, organisations, religious groups and other well-meaning individuals by adopting school(s) in underprivileged communities in all Local Government Areas of Nigeria, as part of Corporate Social Responsibility or as a philanthropist.
This initiative intends to kick-start with Apapa Local Government of Lagos State as a prototype, though not exclusive, as the prototype is open to willing LGAs and State Education School Boards (SEB).
ASI is expected to be driven by stakeholders, concerned parents, teachers and educators who have indicated a passion to come to the aid of the underprivileged Nigerian child living in these communities. The Nigerian child deserves quality education, as education is the right of every child.
Scope
The “Adopt a School” project, though not limited to these cardinal points, aims to:
- Identify the total number of primary and secondary schools, government, missionary and private, around Nigeria with poor or failed amenities and infrastructure, resolve the failing factors and provide the necessary safety materials.
- Carry out a needs assessment for schools and verify the information provided.
- Enable well-meaning individuals and organisations to provide missing amenities such as pipe-borne water in host communities, better sanitation systems in schools, and learning centres in the communities as an alternative to online learning.
- Train and equip teachers with the necessary skills needed to teach children using both traditional and online teaching methods.
Strategy
The initiative works with teachers through training and teaching aids, so that teachers can reach children using contemporary online learning resources which in turn reduces contact for the safety of both children and teachers.
