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Nigeria's Second-Chance Schools Empower Women to Balance Study and Survival

From Al Jazeera · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Habiba Abubakar, a 28-year-old mother of four in Sokoto, Nigeria, returned to education after a 13-year hiatus to overcome shame and improve her English.
  • The Women Centre for Continuing Education (WCCE) in Sokoto provides adult education and vocational skills, addressing the high dropout rates for girls in northern Nigeria due to cultural practices and poverty.
  • The WCCE offers a condensed curriculum and free education, enabling women like Abubakar to pursue professions and contribute to addressing the country's shortage of skilled professionals.

In Sokoto, Nigeria, 28-year-old Habiba Abubakar is defying societal norms and personal setbacks by returning to school. For 13 years, she felt ashamed each time her seven-year-old son came home with homework she couldn't help with. This frustration, coupled with a desire to improve her English, propelled her to enroll at the Women Centre for Continuing Education (WCCE) in 2021, finally enabling her to assist her children with their studies.

Abubakar's interrupted education is a common narrative in northern Nigeria, particularly in rural areas. Cultural practices like early marriage and pervasive poverty often force girls out of school. UNICEF reports that over half the girls in the region are not attending school, highlighting a significant educational disparity. Jennifer Agbaji, executive director at Basileia Vulnerable Persons Rights Initiative, views such second-chance education initiatives as vital interventions but stresses the need to address barriers beyond physical attendance, such as childcare and economic challenges.

The WCCE, established in 1997, was designed to offer adult education and vocational training to women in Sokoto State. The center provides a streamlined three-year curriculum for its primary section and three years each for junior and senior secondary levels. Students culminate their studies by sitting for the Junior Leaving School Certificate of Education (JLSCE) and Senior School Certificate of Education (SSCE) examinations. This program has successfully trained numerous women who have gone on to careers in fields like teaching and nursing, helping to fill critical skill gaps in Nigeria.

Benefiting from state government efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children, the WCCE offers free education. This initiative has been instrumental for women like Abubakar, who, after her divorce, relied heavily on the center's support to rebuild her life and pursue her educational goals. The center's commitment to providing accessible education empowers women to overcome obstacles and contribute more fully to their communities.

I’ve always felt ashamed when Muhammad told me that they’ve been given another assignment.

— Habiba AbubakarAbubakar described her feelings of inadequacy before returning to school.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Al Jazeera in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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