Students of the Distance Education Centres in the Diffa region arrive in Kano

A group of 40 Nigerian secondary school students proudly set off last week on the journey back to their home country of Nigeria to sit the junior cycle BPEC state exams. Despite many of the students having witnessed atrocities and all having been forced to flee their homes, they are a resilient group, who are determined not to allow the misfortune of their situation to slow them down or to interrupt their education, which they see as the key to improving their situation and possibilities for the future.

UNHCR, with partner COOPI established the Distance Education Programme in 2014 in the Diffa region, following requests from Nigerian refugees. The Programme aims to provide Nigerian students who have been forced to flee from the Northern states of Nigeria, with the opportunity to continue their education. The curriculum provided through the Programme is the English language curriculum used in Nigeria. Following negotiations with both the Nigerien and Nigerian Departments of Education, the Programme was validated, and four centres opened their doors in 2014. Sadly the centre in the commune of Bosso had to be closed due to the unstable security situation. However, the three remaining centres in Diffa, Maine Soara and Kabelawa currently cater for 377 students. In emergency situations, education always suffers. In the Diffa region alone, almost 80 schools located in unstable regions close to the border remain closed following the first attacks in the region in February 2015. However, over 50 emergency schools have been created with over 17,000 students.

The Distance Education Programme focuses on the secondary level Nigerian students and emphasizes self-learning, with the assistance of teachers and tutors. Following a mission by UNHCR, COOPI and the authorities to Nigeria in March to organize the examinations, the students happily received the news that they would travel to Kano in Nigeria to undertake their BPEC exams, certified by the National Examinations Council in Nigeria, from the 25th of April to the 12th of May.

Exam session in Kano

Two students talked of their experiences travelling to Nigeria and the excitement they felt at the opportunity to take their exams. Ousseini Allassuru described that “we spent 6 hours travelling from Niger to Kano…everything went so well for us – from the introduction to the Director of the College where we are taking the exams, to the accommodation and the food. It’s clear that it has been very well organized, which is important, as it allows us to focus on succeeding in our exams”.

Maryam Muhammad described the first day of the examinations, when the students met others from all over Nigeria. She says that the group who came from Niger “are all very confident that we will pass these exams. We’ve had enough time to prepare and have been helped and encouraged in our studies and revision. That’s why we are here today in Kano”. Next week they will make their return journey to Niger and await the results of their exams and the fruits of their hard work and dedication, despite the many odds stacked against them.