Ibrahim Muhammad
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reiterated its commitment to support the Jigawa State Government in strengthening it’s basic education sector.
Education Manager of the UNICEF Kano Field Office, Mr. Micheal Banda, stated this during a three-day Local Education Sector Operations Plan (LESOP) Review and Development Workshop held on Friday in Dutse.
He said the workshop was supported by UNICEF and the European Union (EU) under the Education and Youth Empowerment (EYE) programme, aims to assist the state in reviewing and developing its education strategic operational plan.
Banda described the review as a vital step toward improving education planning and implementation across the state. He noted that by updating the LESOP, Jigawa is reinforcing its commitment to evidence based decision-making, transparency, and community participation.
According to him “despite notable progress, many children in Jigawa still face barriers to quality education such as poverty, child labour, early marriage, and distance to schools”
” the LESOP process will help identify these challenges in each local government area and design local solutions tailored to community needs’
Banda also highlighted inadequate funding as a major obstacle to achieving education goals, calling for greater transparency and accountability in the management of education funds. He urged state governments to explore innovative financing mechanisms and ensure efficient budget execution to enhance teaching and learning outcomes.
Chairman of the Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Haruna Musa, commended UNICEF and the EU for their continuous support to the state’s education sector.
He said the reviewed plan would serve as a vital tool for improving educational outcomes, adding, “Planning is important, but implementation is equally critical.
“We will ensure that this document guides our actions, especially in addressing learning challenges and reducing the number of out-of-school children.” He said.
