Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA), has brought together civil society organisations, consultants and other stakeholders in the education sector across the country in a one-day consultative meeting on the state of education in Nigeria and to deliberate on the importance of education among the goals of the recently launched Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the United Nations in September 2015.
The meeting which held yesterday 29th October in Abuja with the theme “Charting a way forward for the Educator Sector in Nigeria” is one of the strategies by CSACEFA to get stakeholders within the education sector acquainted with the new SDGs and the crucial roles of education to the rest of the 16 goals of SDGs.
CSACEFA is a non-governmental coalition working with unflinching dedication to the advocacy for the provision of sound and quality education for all Nigerians.
According to Chioma Osuji, Policy Advisor, CSACEFA, the essence of the meeting as it already coined in its theme is to chart a way forward for the Education Sector in Nigeria so as to ensure speedy realisation of SDGs as regards to education. “At the end of the consultative meeting we are to come with a strong communique for improved education system in Nigeria in line with expectations of SDGs on education for the next 15 years”, she alluded.
Hillary Ogbonna, Acting Regional Coordinator, Africa United Nations Millennium Campaign who delivered captivating and a well-researched presentation on SDGs; way forward for Nigeria and role of the CSOs particularly those pushing for sustainable education sector in Nigeria. One of the earliest target of SDGs is actually the continuation of MDGs Education goals which continues with SDGs is premised on four pillars seeking to provide qualitative education at all levels, he explained.
He spoke comprehensively on building on MDGs, equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable and people with disabilities. Teachers quality and training must be taken priority so as to enhance the quality of education in the country, he posited. He further highlighted on best approaches to developing communication strategies on SDGs.
Chioma, also expatiated on these features of 2030 education targets which are access, equity and inclusion, quality and learning outcomes through lifelong learning approaches. She added that teachers must be well remunerated and motivated so as to deliver excellent teaching and for learners to be imparted with quality knowledge.