In a bid to alleviate the burden of costly academic materials and promote education accessibility, Serene Early-Trobb Concepts (Initiative), a nonprofit organization dedicated to children’s rights, has initiated a campaign to distribute free education materials to indigent pupils in public schools.
The organization’s recent effort targeted approximately 200 pupils from Ojota Nursery/Primary School, GRA Nursery and Primary School, and Emmanuel Nursery and Primary School in the Ojota area of Lagos State. This initiative, part of the organization’s annual Education Support Inclusivity 2024 project, aims to empower underprivileged students by providing essential learning tools.
Rhoda Olorunfemi, the Founder and Executive Director of Serene Early-Trobb Concepts, emphasized the importance of facilitating learning for pupils who struggle to afford writing materials, a barrier that often leads to school dropout rates.
“Despite the official policy of free primary education, many children remain out of school due to poverty,” stated Ms. Olorunfemi. “With approximately 10.5 million Nigerian children aged 5-14 years not in school, our objective is to encourage continuous learning and retention in schools.”
The distribution includes exercise books and other writing materials, crucial for fostering individual academic progress among the beneficiaries. Ms. Olorunfemi highlighted that the initial phase targeted 200 pupils, with a broader goal of reaching 500 students by the end of 2024.
Addressing the multifaceted challenges hindering children’s education, Ms. Olorunfemi underscored the significant role poverty plays in impeding access to education. She urged the government to intensify efforts to ensure school enrollment and retention, acknowledging ongoing initiatives by the Lagos State government while advocating for additional support to bolster these efforts.
“We urge supporters to join us in our mission to enroll more children in school,” Ms. Olorunfemi concluded, emphasizing the collective responsibility to provide educational opportunities for every child.