UNICEF Supports Jigawa On Education Plan

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has begun a five-day workshop to train Jigawa State education managers on reviewing the State Educational Strategic Operational Plan (SESOP), for enhanced teaching and learning effectiveness across the state.

Participants in the training and planning review include local education secretaries, gender desk officers and directors from the State Universal Basic Education Board.

The review of the strategic plan, which focuses primarily on basic education, aims to improve foundational skills and learning outcomes within the sector.

At the event, the director-general/CEO of the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA-Nigeria), Dr David Shofoyeke, stated that the five-day programme was jointly organised by NIEPA-Nigeria in collaboration with UNICEF Nigeria.

He said the workshop focuses on training participants and drafting the State Education Sector Strategic Plan (SESP) and the State Education Sector Operational Plan (SESOP).

According to Dr Shofoyeke, the two foundational documents, which guide education sector reforms, resource mobilisation, policy alignment and strategic investments at the sub-national level, will be tailored to the state’s specific needs.

“The development of robust and responsive SESP and SESOP documents provides the blueprint through which states articulate their education vision, establish targets and operationalise interventions within their policy and resource environment,” he said.

He described the projects as “pivotal, as they lay the groundwork for evidence-based, gender-transformative, equity/disability-inclusive, and crisis/climate change-resilient sector planning in education.”

“Your input today will shape your state’s education future for the next decade,” the “Ask questions, challenge assumptions, think inclusively, and build plans that will impact every child, every school, and every learning community,” he stated.

He further affirmed that NIEPA would continue to serve as a reliable technical partner and a centre of excellence, committed to supporting education managers through every step of planning and implementing educational reforms to achieve the desired goals.