UK GOVERNMENT PLEDGES CONTINUED SUPPORT AS JIGAWA STATE GOVERNMENT HOLDS EDUCATION REFORM DIALOGUE

The UK Government through the British High Commission in Abuja has pledged continued support to the Jigawa State Government as it held an Education Reform Dialogue with critical stakeholders on Wednesday, 8 November 2023. The event, with the theme ‘Repositioning Teaching and Learning for Human Capital Development’, was convened by the Ministry of Basic Education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology in Jigawa State.

In addressing learning poverty and other challenges with basic education in the state, including the dearth of teachers and the high prevalence of out-of-school children, Jigawa State has set aside more than 2.6 billion naira to recruit, train and induct 6,000 new teachers. A recruitment committee was inaugurated by the Honourable Commissioner for Basic Education, Honorable Dr. Lawan Yunusa Danzomo during the Education Reform dialogue. This reform is in line with key recommendations highlighted in a new Teacher Recruitment and Deployment policy approved by the state, which the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) supported through its FCDO-PLANE Nigeria and Partnership for Reform and Learning (PERL-ARC) programmes.

The British High Commission’s Senior Education Adviser, Ian Attfield, during a courtesy visit to the Governor and his State Cabinet, commended the effort of the new administration, while pledging the UK Government’s support. He appreciated His Excellency, Governor Malam Muhammad Umar Namadi, FCA, on the formidable steps taken by his administration to address key strategic issues in Jigawa State’s education sector, especially the current efforts to address the critical shortage of teachers.

The British High Commission’s Senior Education Adviser, Ian Attfield said:

“Nigeria is still experiencing a learning crisis, and one of the most vital ingredients that any state or government can do is to supply qualified, motivated and adequately supported teachers. The UK is delighted to see the progress being made across board, under the leadership and vision of Governor Namadi”.?

He was accompanied on the visit by staff of the British High Commission including Education Programme Officer, Tonia Momodu; Education Adviser, Joseph Wales; Regional Coordinator in Jigawa State, Abubakar Tijjani; Country Director of Development Alternatives International (DAI), the implementing partner on the PLANE project, Dr. Joe Abah, the National Team Leader of PLANE, Dr. Nguyan Feese, and the Jigawa State Team Lead for the PLANE programme, Mr. Mustapha Ahmed.

The Executive Governor of the State appreciated FCDO for its interventions in the state which has spanned over two decades. He mentioned that the state is still reaping the benefits of the Public Financial Management reforms done by the UK Government through the then Department for International Development (DFID).

The Governor of Jigawa State, His Excellency, Malam Muhammad Umar Namadi, FCA, said:?

“PLANE is a programme which the Jigawa State Government is partaking in, and I want to assure you that just as we sustained reforms of the public financial management systems, we will also continue to sustain whatever reform or intervention you bring to us. We will sustain it and build on it. That is why you can see what we are doing in education in terms of teacher recruitment, deployment, training and retraining and our efforts to reduce the out-of-school children”.

He added that the state’s Tsangaya programme is designed specifically to drastically reduce the number of out-of-school children and called on FCDO to join hands as it is poised to replicate FCDO’s interventions.

Before visiting the state house, officials from the FCDO and PLANE also paid a courtesy visit to the palace of the Emir of Dutse, where Alhaji Basiru Muhammed Sanusi, Galadiman Dutse, received them on behalf of the Emir. The team also visited two PLANE-supported schools within the state to observe teaching sessions.

FCDO through PLANE will support the state during the recruitment, training, induction and deployment of the new teachers. FCDO will also provide technical inputs in materials supply to Jigawa State. So far, PLANE trained 2,361 teachers in the state and donated thousands of literacy and mathematics textbooks to pupils in the state, while also supporting teachers with guides.

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