….. Strengthening Accountability for Public Service Delivery: Enhancing Community Access to Education in Northern Nigeria

Reform and service provisioning  Economic philosophy of market and service – neoliberal policies  The state-confessed lack of capacity and resource to finance education.  Corruption  Poverty and deep gender discrimination

What we met …..denial /violation of Right to education  Right to education of children from Gidan Kude Community in Bungudu Local Government Denied for over 27 years  Few boys and fewer girls received quality education.  Despite the commitments at international declarations such as :  Article 17of 1986 African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights,  the Millennium Development Goals ( 2 & 3) and 6 Education For All goals among others for 27 years only 5 out of 317 girls their right to education in this community.  Even the obligation of the state in Article 18:1 of Chapter 2 of the Nigerian Constitution under the Fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy that “ Government shall direct its policy towards ensuring that there are equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels.”  the Universal Basic Education Act of 2004 that states “the provision of free, universal basic education for every Nigerian child of school-going age” (UBE, 2003),did not ensure that the right to education for 98% of girls in Gidan Kude is not violated.

School environment violated the right of the children especially the girls.

Other factors included…  Poverty : Girls supported family income through hawking  Discriminatory Practices.  Gender Roles.

What we did & how  Identified key decision makers and worked with them  Community Mobilization  Reflect Methodology using 2 Reflect Circles – men & women  Capacity Building : Gender Rights awareness, Budget Tracking, RBA etc. for Imams & Community Leaders  Advocacy  Collaboration with Government Agencies.  Partnership with the traditional Institution.  Formation of SBMC, Girls Clubs & GEAG  Use of Drama & drama clubs.  Committee of Female Role models.

The change we got… Increased Rights Consciousness: Parents now advocate for Quality education Mobilsation of Support: Formation of  GEAG,  Girls Club,  Committee of Female Role Models  School Based management Committees Policies & practice  Practice of girls hawking minimized during school hours.  Govt replicate Strategies in 140 Communities in Zamfara state  Additional N500m to girls education Improved condition of the people Construction of a block of classrooms Girls enrolment increased from 5 to 99 Power & Rights. Community empowered to demand their right to education

The Change we got……………. Gidan Kude new school Alhaji Yahaya, Community Head & Leader of the Change movement in Gidan Kude

Right holders expressing their right to education