The Partnership for Learning for All in Nigerian Education (PLANE), a seven-year flagship programme funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), has intensified efforts to strengthen education governance in Kano State.
As part of its ongoing commitment, PLANE convened a high-level stakeholder engagement to review the progress of the Kano State Accountability Forum on Education (K-SAFE) and assess the third-quarter budget performance within the basic education sector.
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PLANE, which works to improve foundational learning by promoting inclusive and effective education systems, has been supporting both government and non-state actors in Kano.
The intervention is targeted at enhancing service delivery, deepening accountability, and promoting reforms anchored on evidence and data.
At the engagement session, stakeholders examined ongoing K-SAFE reform initiatives, which include:
Budget analysis and performance tracking, and Tracking of teaching and learning materials (TLMs) across schools in the state.
Participants also discussed strategies to strengthen K-SAFE’s technical capacity in conducting evidence-based advocacy on budget planning, approval, implementation, and utilisation.
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The forum further deliberated on launching a third reform initiative aimed at expanding citizen participation and improving transparency in education governance.
The gathering offered a platform for stakeholders to enhance their understanding of public financial management (PFM) processes and to foster more meaningful engagement with government institutions responsible for budgeting and service delivery in basic education.
Intensive meetings and brainstorming sessions were held to develop actionable strategies for improving budget tracking, performance indicators, and overall accountability mechanisms within the sector.
A stakeholder analysis presented during the engagement revealed that key decision-makers such as the Commissioner for Education, Commissioner for Higher Education, Chairman of the State House Committee on Education, Commissioner for Budget and Planning, and the Executive Secretary of KSSMB hold both high power and high interest in influencing education budget decisions.
In contrast, groups including School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs), K-SAFE members, and Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) were identified as having high interest but comparatively lower power in driving reforms.
To address this gap, participants recommended stronger evidence-based advocacy supported by reliable data and timely information to influence policy decisions.
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The expected outcomes of the strengthened advocacy include improving learning outcomes, reducing the rising number of out-of-school children, and enhancing community security by tackling education-related vulnerabilities.
PLANE reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Kano State in building a more transparent, accountable, and effective basic education system capable of delivering quality learning for all children.