UNICEF has reaffirmed its commitment to collaborate with the Jigawa State Government to strengthen the basic education sector. Micheal Banda, Education Manager of the UNICEF Kano Field Office, made this known during a three-day Local Education Sector Operations Plan (LESOP) Review and Development Workshop held on Friday in Dutse.
The workshop, supported by UNICEF and the European Union (EU), is part of the Education and Youth Empowerment (EYE) programme aimed at assisting Jigawa State in reviewing and drafting its education strategic operational plan.
Banda described the exercise as a crucial step in improving the education sector’s planning and implementation framework across the state. According to him, “By reviewing and updating the LESOP, Jigawa is demonstrating a commitment to evidence-based decision making, accountability, and community participation, which are vital ingredients for transforming education at the local level.”
He noted that despite progress made in education, many children in Jigawa still face challenges in accessing quality education due to poverty, child labour, early marriage, or distance to the nearest school. Banda said the LESOP process provides an opportunity to identify these barriers in each local government area and design local solutions suited to community realities.
The UNICEF official pointed out that inadequate financing remains a major challenge to achieving education goals. He emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in the use of allocated funds to ensure improved teaching and learning outcomes.
Banda added that UNICEF encourages state governments to explore innovative financing options and strengthen budget execution to ensure that education resources reach schools promptly. “LESOP will help local education authorities plan and implement realistic, cost effective activities that are aligned with the State Education Sector Plan and Medium-Term Expenditure Framework. LESOP should be more than a document but a living guide that drives local action, accountability, and innovation in every LGA and for every learner,” he said.
Haruna Musa, Chairman of the Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), commended UNICEF and the EU for their continued support and intervention in the education sector. Musa explained that the new document would serve as a guide to improve education in the state. “Planning is important but implementation is also important. As education managers, we will do our best to deploy the document as a guide. Our main focus is on addressing the challenges in the system in terms of learning outcomes and the issue of out-of-school children,” he stated.