Organisation implements education initiative

The Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is currently implementing an education initiative in two largely nomadic regions of Niger. The programme focuses on sustaining school enrolment in a Catholic primary school in the northern Tuareg region of Tchirozerine, as well as in public primary schools in Bermo, primarily inhabited by the Peul people, a statement from CRS said.

The programme, being carried out in collaboration with local partners, provides food aid "enough for three nutritious meals a day" to more than 800 nomad children, CRS said. The food is bought locally by the respective Catholic missions, thereby supporting local markets, the organisation added.

"The majority of these schools would be forced to close their doors to the students if these meals were not provided throughout the school year," it noted.

The food support provided by CRS and the Catholic Church would increase school attendance by minority nomad population. The NGO hopes to expand the project to include teacher training and strengthening of parent management committees.

Niger was ranked second to last in the 1999 UNDP's Human Poverty Index, a fact partially explained by extremely low rates of literacy among the population and the low enrolment for school-aged children, CRS said.