EDUCATION

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EDUCATION

Francisco Tolibas Maghulod Elementary School, Leyte UNICEF trip to Tacloban, in the Philippines to report on their response to Typhoon Yolanda, March 2016.

Maria-Lourdes and Francisco ran the final part of their journey home from school. They lead us through a wooden gate, past lots of plastic pots of flowers and into their back garden where their mother, Emelita, was rinsing some clothes.

It was a really hot day and I asked them if they would show us around their home. They started with a low, dark building. The roof was made of woven leaves and there was a fire lit in the corner. “This was our home before Yolanda”. They hid together under their furniture and the typhoon battered their roof. It collapsed into the house. Their first job afterwards was to rebuild the house. They did not rebuild it as high as it had been previously, but they were able to repair the roof.

I asked Maria Lourdes if she remembers the typhoon. She nodded. What was it like? “The wind was everywhere and it was difficult to see. I was scared”.

Six months later they started to build their new house. The temporary building they’d built after the typhoon wasn’t big enough for their large family.

I asked Maria-Lourdes which house she prefers, and she smiled and nodded towards the new house.

She led her inside and it was clear why she preferred it. There were windows letting in plenty of light, the floor was wooden instead of bare earth, the ceiling was higher and it felt like there was a breeze blowing through. On one wall was a display of family pictures and a row of medals. Maria-Lourdes pointed out her medals. “I got them for being second in class”.

She showed us her bedroom that she shares with her sister, they sleep in the same bed and there is a huge pile of clothes. I ask her if they are hers; “no they belong to my sister”.

Her mum says she’s very helpful at home. “She weeds the vegetable garden, and waters too”. Maria-Lourdes shows us her weeding with a large knife. Maria-Lourdes’ favourite food is eggplant from the garden, fried in an egg batter.
Later, her mother cuts a papaya from one of the fruit trees in her garden and shares it with us. Maria-Lourdes’ little brother Francisco loves the papaya, but struggles to cut it with the sharp knife. Maria-Lourdes kindly helps him.

Since attaining independence (1960), Nigeria has set a high priority on education. Universal primary education has become the norm in southern Nigeria, where the Yoruba live. Secondary school (high school) education also became common. The first university in Nigeria was located in a Yoruba city. Originally called University College, it is now known as the University of Ibadan. The majority of students at Ibadan are Yoruba.