By Ibrahim Muhammad
The Jigawa State Government has launched a comprehensive 10-year strategic plan aimed at reforming the state’s basic education sector and improving learning outcomes from 2026 to 2035.
The initiative, developed in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the National Institute for Educational Planning (NIEP), is designed to strengthen foundational learning, expand access to education, improve pupil retention, enhance teacher accountability, and create better learning environments across the state.
The State Education Strategic Plan (SESP 2026–2035), together with the three-year State and Local Education Sector Operational Plans (SESOP and LESOP), was developed under the European Union-funded Education and Youth Empowerment in Northern Nigeria (EYEPINN) project.
Speaking at the launch in Dutse, the Commissioner for Basic Education, Hon. Lawal Yunusa Danzomo, said the plan would serve as a roadmap for transforming the education sector over the next decade.
According to him, the strategy focuses on improving teaching and learning, increasing children’s access to schools, reducing dropout rates, ensuring the availability of instructional materials, and strengthening teacher performance and accountability.
He explained that the document was prepared through extensive consultations with education managers, policymakers, community leaders, civil society organisations, and development partners to ensure that it addresses the key challenges affecting the sector.
Danzomo said the plan had been officially adopted by the state government and would be implemented through the operational plans, with adequate funding provided to improve school infrastructure and the overall learning environment.
He also expressed appreciation to UNICEF, the European Union, and other stakeholders for their support in developing the strategic framework, assuring that the government remained committed to its full implementation.
UNICEF Education Specialist, Mr. Muttaqa Muktar Muhammad, described the strategic plan as an important framework for strengthening the state’s education system and making it more responsive to the needs of communities.
He said the document would provide practical guidance for planning, budgeting, and implementing education programmes, while helping the state address both immediate and long-term challenges in the basic education sector.
