Kaduna Govt inaugurates FCDO-funded inclusive education programme

From: Femi  Oyelola, Kaduna

The Kaduna State Government has inaugurated the UK-supported Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE), a seven-year programme designed to drive the inclusive education programme in the state.

The programme was inaugurated yesterday at Model Primary School, Kakuri, Kaduna, as part of community level engagement to create the needed awareness and mobilise community support.

The Commissioner for Education, Hajiya Haluma Lawal said that the programme would significantly improve learning outcomes in primary schools in the state.

Lawal, who was represented by Munkaila Usman, Deputy Director, Monitoring and Evaluation in the ministry, commended PLANE for selecting Kaduna State as one of the benefiting states.

He said that the programme would strengthen the needed foundation and learning outcomes in primary schools in the state.

She called on community members and critical stakeholders to support in ensuring the success of the programme.

Earlier, the State Team Lead, PLANE, Ms Diana Agabi, said that the seven-year programme was being funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), for a more inclusive and effective education system.

She said that the programme was being implemented in 728 primary schools across six Local Government Areas of the state — Kaduna South, Kaduna North LGA, Sabon Gari, Soba, Jaba and Sanga.

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,” she said.

She said that the programme was being inaugurated in all the benefiting local government areas to sensitise community members and mobilize their support.

“We have already inaugurated the programme in Sabon Gari, Soba and Kaduna North LGAs and today we are in Kaduna South LGA. Next week we will be in Jaba and Sanga LGAs for a similar event,” she said.