EMPOWERING EDUCATORS, TRANSFORMING FUTURES: AEP MASTER TRAINERS TRAINING IN KADUNA
From March 17th to 21st, 2025, the serene and inspiring setting of Butterfly Hotel in Marafa, Kaduna, became the epicenter of educational transformation as Save the Children International convened a landmark training under the Reaching Out-Of-School Children Project (ROOSC) —the Accelerated Education Program (AEP) Master Trainers Training.
About the Training
This five-day intensive training brought together a dynamic group of 11 Master Trainers representing critical education stakeholders such as SUBEB, SMoE, KSSQAA, KASU, and the College of Education, Gidan Waya. Guided by passionate professionals, the training laid a firm foundation for a ripple effect of learning, innovation, and empowerment across communities in Kaduna State.
Training Objectives
The overarching goals of the workshop were twofold:
- Equip master trainers with comprehensive knowledge and skills essential to the AEP model.
- Prepare trainers to effectively cascade this knowledge to AEP facilitators, ensuring high-quality teaching for out-of-school children (OOSC) across communities.
Key Topics Explored
Participants were immersed in a curriculum that balanced theory with hands-on application. Topics included:
- Introduction to Accelerated Education Program (AEP) and its educational pathways.
- Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to promote inclusive and accessible teaching.
- Curriculum deep dives in Basic Numeracy, Literacy, and Science & Technology.
- Engaging numeracy activities: Bingo games, number building, and noisy number games.
- Innovative literacy activities: Alphabet games, syllable formations, and word construction.
- Gender and disability inclusion, safeguarding principles, and safety and security.
Key Takeaways
The training was more than an academic exercise—it was a transformative journey. Participants walked away with:
- A clear understanding of the three AEP levels, designed to meet the unique learning needs of OOSC aged 10 and above.
- A toolkit of engaging instructional strategies, including gamified numeracy and literacy exercises.
- Enhanced awareness of inclusion, ensuring all learners, regardless of gender or disability, are supported.
- Crucial insights into safeguarding, distinguishing between child safeguarding (project-specific) and child protection (broader context).
- A showcase of learning through participant-led role plays, reinforcing confidence and readiness for future training sessions.
Advancing the ROOSC Mission
The workshop aligns seamlessly with the Reach Out-of-School Children (ROOSC) project objectives contributing to:
- Tailored learning programs that reintegrate OOSC into meaningful educational pathways.
- Immediate readiness for community-based facilitator training across 9 targeted LGAs.
- Sustainable plans for transitioning learners back into formal education or alternative opportunities.
Recommendations & Way Forward
To ensure continued impact, the following steps were agreed upon:
- Cascade training to AEP facilitators in the 9 focus LGAs for rapid learner enrollment.
- Conduct monitoring and feedback sessions to refine and improve training delivery.
- Establish a robust tracking system for learner engagement and progress.
- Source and integrate additional educational resources to continually enhance facilitator capacity.
Final Thoughts
The AEP Master Trainers Training in Kaduna was not just a workshop—it was a bold statement of commitment to inclusive, accelerated, and impactful education for every child left behind. With the dedication of trainers, facilitators, and partners, a brighter future for Nigeria’s out-of-school children is not just a possibility—it is a promise in motion.
Together, we educate. Together, we transform.