By Sunkanmi Onifade
The Forum of African Women Educationists (FAWE) Nigeria, has called for the training of teachers to strengthen child protection and safeguarding practices in schools.
The Chairperson of FAWE Nigeria, Mrs Jiddere Kaddo, made the call at a two-day training organised by the organisation in collaboration with the Federal Capital Territory Universal Basic Education Board (FCT UBEB), with support from Echidna Giving.
The training, themed “Understanding the Tuseme Model and Establishing Functional Tuseme Clubs,” was aimed at equipping teachers with the knowledge and skills to establish functional Tuseme Clubs in selected schools.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tuseme Clubs (Swahili for ‘Let’s Speak Out’) are student-centred empowerment groups established in African schools by FAWE.
Originating in Tanzania in 1996, the initiative empowers adolescent girls and boys to become confident leaders who advocate for their rights, resist harmful cultural norms and address barriers to education.
Kaddo said teachers played a vital role in ensuring that every child was protected from harm while helping to build their confidence.
She said the training on the Tuseme model was designed to establish functional girls’ clubs in schools.
According to her, beyond teaching academics, teachers are entrusted with nurturing learners, recognising signs of distress, responding to child protection concerns, and fostering a culture of respect, inclusion and safety.
“We take it really serious in following on the issues of inclusion and safety.
“The establishment of Tuseme is an investment in the future of our girls and our education system.
“We know that many girls have the ability to lead, but they often lack safe spaces where they can express themselves, build confidence and develop leadership skills,” Kaddo said.
She said the training provided key concepts, practical examples, case studies and planning tools to help teachers apply child protection practices in their daily work.
She added that through dialogue, mentorship and learner-led activities, girls gained the confidence to speak up on issues affecting their education while developing leadership and problem-solving skills.
Kaddo stressed the need to strengthen teachers’ capacity to establish and support the clubs, adding that the initiative would help create schools that were safer, more inclusive and more responsive to the needs of every learner.
The Master Trainer of Tuseme in Nigeria, Hajiya Gani Ramatu, said the Tuseme model had transformed learners, especially girls, by building confidence and leadership skills in schools across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Ramatu said that since the introduction of Tuseme in her school, she had witnessed remarkable improvements among pupils.
“Initially, the girls were shy and reluctant to participate in club activities.
“But with the introduction of Tuseme, these children are now bold, confident and willingly participate in activities such as debates,” Ramatu said.
She noted that Tuseme had strengthened teamwork, mutual respect and communication among learners.
“The most important achievement is that learners can now stand up, speak for themselves, identify their challenges and take action to address them,” she said.
Ramatu said the model would significantly benefit the education sector by enabling more girls to attain leadership positions.
“With the introduction of Tuseme Clubs, girls will be empowered to take up leadership roles. They can become bold and aspire to the highest positions in life,” she said.
The National Coordinator of FAWE Nigeria, Amina Usman, said more training would be conducted in selected schools across the FCT.
She added that plans were underway to visit area councils next term to sensitise female teachers on the Tuseme model.
NAN reports that FAWE Nigeria, established in 1996, advocates girls’ education and addresses barriers to access, retention and academic performance through policy advocacy and community-based interventions.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Funmilayo Adeyemi