UK group moves to improve inclusive education in Kaduna
The Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE), with support from the UK, on Tuesday inaugurated four Technical Working Groups (TWGs).
The aim is to drive inclusive education programmes in Kaduna State.
The State Team Lead, Mrs Diana Agabi, said at the meeting in Kaduna, that TWGs would provide a platform for state and non-state actors to work inclusively for the implementation of the programme.
Agabi identified the four TWGs as Material Development, Teacher Professional Development, School Leadership and Community, Monitoring, Evaluation and Assessment.
According to her, the TWGs will contribute to the PLANE Programme implementation process by ensuring effective coordination between the government and the PLANE programme in the state.
According to her, PLANE is a seven-year education programme funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to invest in a more inclusive and effective education system in Nigeria.
She said that the programme would be implemented in 734 schools across six Local Government Areas of the state — Kaduna South LGA, 37 schools and Kaduna North LGA, 63 schools.
Others, according to her, are 100 schools in Jaba LGA, 189 schools in Sanga, 281 in Soba and 64 schools in Sabon Gari LGA.
She said that PLANE was aimed at supporting more inclusive and effective education systems to deliver foundational skills where state and non-state basic education providers enable better learning outcomes, including marginalised groups of children.
“This will be achieved through four outputs – better teaching and more focused learning, governance of state systems, governance of non-state systems, and use of evidence and communication.
“The PLANE programme goal is to realise that the Nigerian government and FCDO shared a commitment to drive sustainable improvements in learning outcomes for Nigerian children.
“The programme works with federal and state leaders, legislators, education providers and parents across Abuja, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Borno, Yobe, and other states in the South-East and the South-West,” she said.
Mr Salim Sadiq, Senior Technical Advisor, Teaching and Learning, PLANE, also speaking, said that a key component of PLANE implementation strategy was the constitution of the TWGs.
Sadiq explained that the TWGs would be made up of stakeholders from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Inclusion and Disability Organisations.
According to him, the TWGs are expected to provide technical support to the PLANE team in programme planning and implementation.
Dr. Adamu Maikano, FCDO Regional Coordinator, said that the FCDO, through the PLANE programme, was working to strengthen inclusive education in Kaduna and other benefiting states.
Maikano urged relevant stakeholders to support the PLANE programme with a view to achieving the set objectives.
Earlier, Mr Samalila Leeman, the Permanent Member, Schools Management, Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), thanked FCDO for implementing the PLANE programme in the state.
Leeman pledged that Kaduna SUBEB would mobilise relevant stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of the programme.
Also, Mr Salisu Lawal, Director Planning, Ministry of Education, said that the PLANE programme would significantly support in tackling some challenges affecting the education sector in the state.
