Overview
From the facts deduced from budgetary allocations from 1995-2006, public schools are have been poorly funded in Nigeria; accounting for less than 10% of budgetary allocation within the aforementioned period. Even though efforts have been made in the past and in recent times to advocate for a better direction, the citizenry have stood aloof; finding private alternatives since they can afford them.

In recent times, the involvements of the community in the running of schools in various parts of the world have recorded huge successes; serving as an alternative to sustaining the school.

The Community Volunteer Teachers Projects adopts this strategy through involving members of the community in which these public schools are located in the augmenting of deficits of teachers.

Goal

The goal of the project is to assist in enhancing the standard of public schools in Nigeria and ultimately to get the public involved in the development of their community.

Objectives
• Help to encourage community participation in the management of schools and indeed the development of education in Nigeria
• To help in augmenting the deficit of teachers in public secondary schools in the FCT
• To draw government’s attention to the need to spend more on the educational sector.
• To make public schools attractive for funding opportunities locally, nationally, and internationally.
• To promote volunteering
How does it work?
Individuals within the following categories can volunteer to teach in a Junior Secondary School in which our organization is working in:

• Retirees
• Corporate Staffs who can spare their lunch time to teach
• Individuals transiting within jobs
• Individuals on Leave of Absence
• NYSC members
• Other qualified individuals who have a minimum qualification of a NCE or and OND

These individuals are trained by our organization in conjunction with our partners namely; Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), United Nations Volunteer (UNV) and Volunteer Service Overseas. Our training modules are developed in line with the National Curriculum with the support of the FCT UBEB. After the training, flexible schedules are designed to enable volunteers teach effectively.

Are there any benefits for Volunteers?
Yes. Volunteers are given stipends for each hour they spend and are issued recognition awards for their contributions to the advancement of Education in Nigeria at the end of the term in which they partook in. These Awards are presented by prominent personalities in Government and the Ministry of Education. Volunteers also will from time to time as may be necessary be exposed to trainings and capacity building exercises.

Our does the involvement of Volunteers benefit the schools?
We envisage that the involvement of the volunteers will give the community a sense of relevance in the running and management of the schools. We also believe that for example if a bank staff volunteers his or her time to teach and in the course of teaching, he sees dilapidated chairs and desks when his board needs his suggestion on where to invest their Corporate Social responsibility quota, we more than hopeful that he will suggest the school’s furniture needs to his board. This will indirectly encourage the community to contribute to the advancement of the development of the schools.

We also envisage that through our reports circulated widely across institutions and organization, we will be able to draw government and policy makers’ attention to the need to contribute to the development of schools.

Which Schools are you targeting?
We are targeting four Junior Secondary schools in the suburbs of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja. The schools include:
1. Junior Secondary School, Kubwa II
2. Junior Secondary School, Gwagwalada
3. Junior Secondary School, FHA, Lugbe and;
4. Junior Secondary School, Bwari



How do you hope to sustain the project?
We intend to develop a Best Practice Guide which will contain the success stories, challenges, and recommendations gathered in the course of the project. We also intend to use the project to strengthen the existing Parents Teachers Association (PTA) by suggesting the inclusion of the community in the affairs of the PTA. This is important because all what happens during the school day activity can be negated by the community. There is therefore a need to involve the community to ensure that they (the community) complement everything that goes on during the school day.

How long will the project run for?
The project which is the pilot will run for 12 months; three school terms.

Which Organization is executing the Project?
The Project is being executed by the Joint Initiative for Development (www.ji4d.org), a registered NGO in Nigeria run by Young people between the ages of 18 and 35 years old; working in the areas of Education for all, Youth Development and Good Governance & Democracy. Also involved in the execution of the project are: United Nations Volunteer (UNV), Volunteer Service Overseas (VSO), and Universal Basic Education Board.

How can I find out more information on the project?
You can find out more information about the project with the contact details below:
E-mail: info@ji4d.org
Tel: +234-80-90614663, 070-81934667, 08187209046, 08034177516
Contact Person: ‘Kayode Ajayi-Smith
Email: kayode.ajayi-smith@ji4d.org
Website: www.ji4d.org