Adult and non-formal Education Directorate

About Adult and non-formal Education Directorate

VISION

Eradication of illiteracy for the over all development of the State.

MISSION

  1. To develop policies and strategies aimed at eradicating illiteracy in the State.
  2. Monitor and standardize the implementation of Adult and Non-Formal Education programmes in the State.
  3. Network with Local Government Councils, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and individuals stakeholders, involved in literacy delivery in the State.
  4. To produce a literate population that are self-reliant through skill acquisition and functional literacy.

Adult Education was a division of the Ministry of Education. It became an Agency with the establishment of an Edict No 29 of August 1988 and was gazetted in the Plateau State of Nigeria gazette No 27 volume 13 of December, 1988. The Agency continued to function as such until 27th June 2005, when the Edict was abrogated with the signing into Law, the Bill establishing the Universal Basic Education Board (UBE) by the then Executive Governor, Chief Joshua Chibi Dariye. This was gazetted in the Plateau State Gazette No 3 volume 11 of April 13th, 2006. Adult and Non-Formal Education became a Directorate of the Board under this Law. A Bill is being processed to revert Adult and Non-Formal Education back to its former status of an Agency.

OBJECTIVES

The main objectives for which the Directorate was established are as follows:-

FUNCTIONS

In order to achieve the above objectives, the Directorate has been charged with the following responsibilities:-

STRUCTURE OF THE DIRECTORATE

The Directorate of Adult and Non-Formal Education consists of the Director, the Heads of Department and the Zonal Adult Education Officers.

The Directorate has five (5) Zonal Adult Education offices located at Jos. Barkin Ladi, Pankshin, Langtang North and Shendam LGAs.

The Zonal officers work hand in hand with all the 17 Local Government Council in the State.

STAFF PROFILE.

The Directorate is headed by the Director. It has the following departments: -

Each of this department is expected to be headed by a Head of Department. The Director together with the Heads of Departments makes up the Management of the Directorate.

PROGRAMMES

Adult and Non-Formal Education is being carried out through the following programmes:-

BASIC LITERACY

This is a programme organized for illiterate Adults, youths and out of school children. It is a nine (9) months programme organized by Local Government Councils, Non-Governmental Organizations, (NGOs), Prison houses, individuals and the Directorate.

The Curriculum of this programme consists of reading, writing and numeracy. The National Adult Basic Literacy Curriculum is used in the State.

The Classes are mostly located in the rural areas and some of them are not easily accessible, especially during the rainy season. Classes are held in school buildings, community hall etc. The lessons are held three (3) times a week of two hours of contact each.

The facilitators/Instructors qualifications range from Post Literacy Certificates to Diploma holders. Most of the facilitators are not trained in the field of Adult Education. Each facilitator is expected to teach two (2) or three (3) classes in different locations. At the end of the duration of the programme, learners are examined and successful candidates are given certificates.

The learning materials consist of pencils, various exercise books, sharpeners, cleaners, etc are given to the learners free and the programme is also tuition free.

Some of the Basic Literacy beneficiaries are Prison inmates, the physically challenged persons, Workers, women, youth, nomads, migrant farmers, out of schools children etc.

Classes are held at the convenience of the learners.

POST LITERACY

This programme is organized for neo-literates (semi-literates), completers of Basic Literacy and drop-outs from Primary schools. It is a three (3) year programme leading to the award of Post Literacy Certificate, which is an equivalent of the First School Leaving Certificate.

The National Adult Post Literacy curriculum is being used alongside Primary 1 – 6 curriculums. These consist of English, Mathematics, Social Studies and General science.

These classes are mostly conducted in public, private schools, Churches, Mosques etc. They are held five (5) days a week and usually in the evening at the time suitable to the learners.

The teachers of the programme are usually drawn from the formal school system and they teach as part-time teachers. A teacher may be assigned to teach the entire subjects in one class, while two (2) or more teachers may be assigned to teach the various subjects in a class.

In this programme, the learners are made to pay a token fee ranging from N300.00 – N500.00 a month. They also buy their learning materials. At the end of the programme the learners write the post literacy examination conducted by the Directorate for Adult and Non-Formal Education, successful grandaunds are given Post Literacy Certificates and they either mainstream into the formal school programme or continue with the Adult and Non-Formal Education. The programme follows the formal school calendar year. Most of the Post Literacy Centres in the State are owned by individuals and NGOs.

VOCATIONAL AND COMPUTER EDUCATION CENTRES

These are centres where people acquire professional skills, vocations and computer literacy.

The entire centres are owned by organizations and individuals. The owners/Proprietors of these centres charge their learners fees and they in turn pay approved registration and renewal fees to the Government. Some of the skills taught in this programme include draughtsman-ship pomade, soap making, wielding, fashion design etc.

CONTINIUNG EDUCATION

It comprises of Extra mural/Tutorial/Evening/Holiday classes. The programme prepares candidates outside the formal school system to write recognized external examinations. The learners include traders, market women, house wives, house maids, workers, school drop outs and those who did not make up their papers in the formal school system. It also serves as extra lessons for those in the formal school system.

ADULT EDUCATION RESOURCE CENTRE (AERC)

This is the training arm of the Directorate. It is located along Jos- Bukuru road, behind WAEC office. It trains Adult Education field staff and private candidates from within and outside the State for a period of 1 year. After this training, successful graduands can proceed to read Certificate in Adult Education.

FUTURE PLANS

  1. Opening and running of Basic, Post Literacy classes, Vocational and Continuing Education Centres by the Agency to increase the number of NFE centres in the State.
  2. Rehabilitation and reconstruction of the block of three (3) classrooms, principal’s office, toilets and a store burnt down at the Adult Education Resource Centre (AERC) Jos.
  3. Reactivation of:-
    1. One (1) Area Adult Education Office in each of the Seventeen (17) L.G.Cs. in the State.
    2. Worker Education classes for all illiterate and semi-illiterate workers.
  4. Support the opening of Girl-Child Education Centres in the remaining three (3) L.G.Cs. namely Qua’an Pan, Riyom and Shendam.
  5. Intervention of Western Education into the identified Quranic/Tsangaya Centres in the State.
  6. Purchase of vehicles for regular monitoring and supervision of all Adult and Non-Formal Education programmes in the State.
  7. Conducting workshops, seminars and refresher courses regularly at the Adult Education Resource Centre for Adult Education personnel in the State.
  8. Building of hostel accommodation at the AERC so that more students can be admitted and accommodated conveniently.
  9. Opening, running and monitoring of literacy by Radio centres in the State.
  10. Regular advocacy and sensitization visits to policy makers at the state and LGC levels to enlighten them on all Adult Education programmes.
  11. Media publicity of the activities of Adult and Non-Formal Education programmes at the State and L.G.C. levels, thus creating awareness in the general public
  12. Fencing of AERC should be done to prevent encroachment on the land

PLATEAU STATE ADULT AND NON-FORMAL EDUCATION ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2013

The year 2013 started with strike action by Local Government employees that lasted over a period of six (6) months. This affected negatively the programmes of Adult and Non-Formal Education in the State. However, activities were carried out under the various programmes as outlined below:-

  1. Basic Literacy:- This was organized by Local Government Councils (L.G.Cs.), Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Prison Houses and Individuals.

    The 2012/2013 session started in the months of September/ October of 2012. During the session, a total of Six Hundred and Forty Eight (648) classes were opened throughout the seventeen (17) Local Government Councils in the State. The total enrolment was Fourteen Thousand Three Hundred and Two (14, 302) learners, made up of Five Thousand One Hundred and Thirty Nine (5,139) males and Nine Thousand One Hundred and Sixty Three (9,163) females. Out of this number, Seven Thousand One Hundred and Seventy Nine (7,179) learners made up of 2,620 males and 4,559 females were successful in the Basic Literacy examination. It should be noted that some centres did not conduct the examinations, while others closed down as a result of the strike action by the staff of the Local Government Councils and the movement of some people to different locations because of the crisis that took place within their areas. The details of the results are as shown in the table attached.

    The 2013/2014 Literacy sessions took off in the months of September and October 2013. The total enrolment is Seventeen Thousand Eight Hundred and Two (17,802) learners made up of Five Thousand Two Hundred and Ninety Six (5,296) males and Twelve Thousand Five Hundred and Six (12,506) females.

    1. Prison Houses:- Classes were organized for the inmates. The prison houses are located in Jos North, Langtang North, Pankshin, Lakushi, and Wase.

      There were seven (7) classes with a total enrolment of Ninety Four (94) learners made up of 84 males and 10 females’ learners.
    2. Home Craft (Adult Women Education): During the year some equipment such as knitting and sewing machines were distributed to all the L.G.Cs to supplement what the L.G.Cs provide for the centres. In the session, there were Forty Five (45) centres with an enrolment of Two (2) males and Seven hundred and Three (703) female learners.
    3. National/International Literacy Day: The Director of the Agency participated in the celebration at the national level. This took place in Kano, Kano State. No Local Government in the State celebrated the occasion due to the strike.
  2. Vocational and Continuing Education
    1. Continuing Education: There were Ten (10) newly approved continuing education centres while there were Ten (10) more centres being processed for approval.
    2. Vocational and Computer Education There were about Thirty (30) approved vocational and computer centres with some awaiting processing for approval.
    3. Post Literacy During the year under review, there were Eighty Five (85) classes with an enrolment of Two Thousand One Hundred and Thirty learners, made up of six hundred and Sixty Five (665) males and One Thousand Four Hundred and Sixty Five (1,465) females. The centres were found in Fifteen (15) L.G.Cs in the State. These centres are operated by L.G.Cs, NGOs, Faith-based organizations and individuals.

      Post Literacy examination was not conducted due to the Local Government employee strike.
    4. Holiday/summer Classes Many individuals and organizations including formal schools organized holidays/summer classes for their students during the long vocation. This provided extra lessons for the learners/students and helped keep them busy during this period. Some of the centres paid their registration and renewal fees to the State Government.
    5. Girl – Child Education There were Twenty One (21) Girl Child Education centres in the State with an enrolment of five (5) male and five hundred (500) female learners. Some materials, equipment and books were distributed to some of the centres during the year.
    6. Quranic/Tsangaya Centres There were about ninety eight (98) Quranic/tsangaya centres in the State Very few of these centres have agreed for Western system of education to be integrated into their programme.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Inspite of all the challenges the State and Local Government Councils faced in the year 2013, the following activities were carried out-:

  1. Teaching, learning materials and equipment were distributed to the 17 L.G.Cs and some Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the State.
  2. There was monitoring and supervision of Adult and Non-Formal Education programmes by officers at the Zonal and Local Government Council levels.
  3. The State Government reconstituted a five-man (5) Board members for the State Directorate for Adult and Non-Formal Education. They have since started sitting.
  4. Approvals to operate were given to five (5) vocational centres in the State and inspections were carried out on 19 others awaiting approval.
  5. The Adult Education Resource Centre successfully graduated Twenty Three (23) students from the Basic Certificate programme.
  6. The centre also graduated Nine (9) women from the Special Home Craft programme.
  7. Staff of the Centre went round and supervised the students on teaching practice as well as mobilized candidates for 2013/2014 intake.
  8. A one (1) week training was organized for One Hundred and Eleven (111) facilitators from Barkin Ladi, Pankshin, Qua’an Pan, Wase L.G.Cs and Justice Peace and Reconciliation Movement (JPRM) on Revitalizing Adult and Youth Literacy (RAYL) in Nigeria by UNESCO/NMEC in conjunction with the State Government.

Action plan to move the Plateau State Agency for Adult and Non-Formal Education Forward.

  1. Opening and running of Basic, Post Literacy classes, Vocational and Continuing Education centres by the Directorate to increase the number of NFE centres in the State.
  2. Rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Three (3) classrooms, principal office, toilets and a store burnt down at the Adult Education Resource Centre (AERC) Jos.
  3. Reactivation of:-
    1. One (1) Area Adult Education Office in each of the seventeen (17) L.G.Cs in the State.
    2. Workers Education classes for all illiterate and semi-literate workers in all Ministries, Boards and Parastatals in the State.
  4. Support the opening of Girl – Child Education Centres in the remaining three (3) L.G.Cs namely Qua’an-Pan, Riyom and Shendam.
  5. Intervention of Western Education into the identified Quranic/tsangaya Centres in the State.
  6. Purchase of vehicles for regular monitoring and supervision of all Adult and Non-Formal Education programmes in the State.
  7. Conducting workshops, seminars and refresher courses regularly at the Adult Education Resource Centre for adult education personnel in the State.
  8. Building of hostel accommodation at the AREC so that more students can be admitted and accommodated conveniently.
  9. Opening, running and monitoring of literacy by Radio centres in the state.
  10. Regular advocacy and sensitization visits to policy makers at the state, and L.G.C levels to enlighten them on all adult education programmes.
  11. Media publicity of the activities of adult and non-formal education programmes at the State and L.G.C levels, thus creating awareness in the general public on NFE programmes.
  12. Regular meeting with stakeholders of adult education programmes, example Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) CBOs, Development Associations, Proprietors of Adult Education programmes, Heads of Units (HOUs) Adult Education, Directors of Social Services (DSS) Supervisory Councilors, etc.
  13. Vigorously pursue proper data generation, collection, collation, and proper record keeping for easy accessibility.
  14. Organizing special workshops for data collectors.
  15. Periodic evaluation of all adult and non-formal programmes in the State.

THREE POINT POLICY

1

Peace, Security & Good Governance

2

Physical Infrastructural Development

3

Sustainable Economic Rebirth