Malam Koura Chetima, Student Representative for the SS2 class of the Distance Education Programme expresses the gratitude of the students to the people of Niger, the authorities, UNHCR and COOPI for the opportunity to continue their education, despite the many odds stacked against them (UNHCR Ibrahim Abdou).

Despite the current difficult situation in the Diffa region, a group of Nigerian students were in high spirits this week. 29 Nigerian refugee Senior Secondary School students returned from a month’s stay in Kano, Nigeria, having successfully completed their Senior Secondary School exams. They are the second group of students to travel to Kano from Diffa to complete their exams this year. In May, 40 Junior Secondary School students travelled to Nigeria to complete their exams, before safely returning to Diffa. The latest group was welcomed back to Diffa by the Secretary General of the Governor of Diffa, the Humanitarian Coordination Cell, UNHCR and COOPI. These students are part of a Distance Education Programme, established by UNHCR and partner COOPI in 2014, with the aim of providing English speaking Nigerian refugees - who were forced to flee the conflict in Nigeria, with the chance to continue their education, and to complete their exams. Four centres were opened in the region in 2014, in the towns of Diffa, Kabelawa, Maine Soara and Bosso. Unfortunately the centre in Bosso was forced to close last year because of the insecurity in the area. However, the three existing centres hosted a total of 377 students for the 2015 – 2016 academic year, 69 of whom had the opportunity to travel to Nigeria to complete their official examinations this year. The Distance Education Programme is fully supported by both the Nigerien and Nigerien authorities, along with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), all of whom undertook a mission to visit the three centres in Diffa last week (1st – 2nd of July). The mission also included representatives of the Regional Directorate of Secondary Education in Diffa, the Ministry of Secondary Education in Niger, The Federal Ministry of Secondary Education in Nigeria, UNHCR and COOPI. During the visit, the students expressed their gratitude to all involved, especially the Nigerien people for not only welcoming them to their country, but for giving them the opportunity to continue their education and to work towards a brighter future. The Student Representative, Malam Koura Chetima (pictured above) proudly assured those present that their efforts were worth it, “we assure you that we have passed the exams…We left here well prepared having received good educational support, and in a spirit of solidarity with our fellow students. We have returned confident and grateful for the opportunity that was offered to us”. Another student, Zeinab Abdoullahi Oumar reflected on the solidarity shown by their fellow Nigerian students and authorities, “we received a very warm welcome in Kano, the committee there made no distinction between us and the official students of the centre. There was a very friendly atmosphere between us and the other students”.

The group of 40 Nigerian students returned to Niger having completed their Final Secondary School Exams. They are all positive for the future and what they can achieve (Ibrahim Abdou UNHCR).

The joint mission was an opportunity for the Nigerien and Nigerian educational authorities to witness first-hand the impact that this project is having on the lives of the students. It was clear that all present were impressed with the project, and were moved to collectively commit to improving it even further for the coming year. All who were present made further commitments to support the project going forward. A particularly positive step was taken by the WAEC who have committed to creating an online platform for an Official Examination Centre in Diffa. This would mean that students wouldn’t have to make the journey back to Nigeria at the end of the year to take their exams. They also committed to provide the necessary additional support to make this goal a reality. Both Educational Ministries – Niger and Nigeria also made further commitments to the students. The Ministry of Secondary Education in Niger confirmed that they would assist in the delivery of identity cards for all of the students, which has been problematic for the students - as is the case for most of the displaced population in the Diffa region who lack identity cards and documentation. They also added that for the coming academic year, students would now have access to laboratory facilities in the Diffa secondary school, to prepare them for their science subjects, and a number of other measures. The Nigerian Educational authorities promised to provide books and educational manuals for the students and to organize further training for the teachers in Nigeria. They also committed to examining whether they might assist in covering the costs of the exams for the students. UNHCR will work on improving the infrastructure available for the coming academic year. A Memorandum of Understanding will be signed between UNHCR and the relevant parties to this effect in the coming weeks. The spirit of solidarity shown between the Nigerien and Nigerian authorities in relation to this project is typical of the relationship between the two countries as regards to the conflict in Northern Nigeria. Niger’s hospitality in terms of continuing to welcome refugees in the Diffa has been repeatedly commended internationally. This is also a brave act of resistance to the insurgent forces intent on destroying education systems - no matter the situation and the horror inflicted upon them, the population will continue to fight for a brighter future through education.