Kano Moves To Sustain Education Gains As UK-Funded PLANE Programme Ends

Governor Abba Yusuf has pledged to sustain and expand education reforms introduced under the United Kingdom-funded Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) programme as the initiative winds down after five years.

The governor made this known through the Commissioner for Education, Ali Makoda, who represented him at a PLANE Transition Workshop held in Kano.

He said education remains central to the state’s long-term development agenda.

“Our administration will consolidate the gains recorded under the PLANE programme. We will strengthen education planning, improve teacher development, and expand access to quality learning materials,” Yusuf said.

He added that the government remains committed to ensuring that every child in Kano has access to quality education.

The governor praised the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), PLANE, Save the Children International, and other partners for their role in improving the state’s education sector.

“We appreciate the support of our development partners. Their contributions have helped transform our education system and laid a strong foundation for future progress,” he said.

Yusuf noted that the programme enabled Kano State to generate reliable data on out-of-school children through a household survey, which now guides targeted interventions.

“This data has strengthened our planning and helped us design focused strategies to reduce the number of out-of-school children,” he stated.

He also highlighted improvements in foundational literacy and numeracy driven by teacher training and the provision of teaching materials across schools.

The governor assured partners that the state would institutionalise the reforms introduced under PLANE.

“The impact on learning outcomes is clear. We are seeing better results from our investments in teacher capacity and classroom resources.

“We will sustain these achievements through strong policies, increased investment, and continuous collaboration with local and international partners,” he added.

At the event, the Commissioner for Education presented a Letter of Appreciation to the PLANE programme, represented by Save the Children International’s Education Manager, Stephen Sawa.

Makoda said the recognition reflects the programme’s contribution to initiatives such as the Accelerated Basic Education Programme.

“PLANE has played a critical role in supporting inclusive and accelerated learning opportunities for children across Kano State,” he said.

The workshop drew participants from the British High Commission, UNICEF, civil society groups, and other education stakeholders, who endorsed key transition plans aimed at strengthening government ownership and sustaining ongoing reforms.