Pulse.ng : PLANE, Kaduna Govt. inaugurates PPP committee to improve education, absorb out-of-school children

By Sani Idris

The Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) programme in collaboration with the Kaduna State Ministry of Education, has inaugurated a Public Private Partnership (PPP) committee to improve access to quality education.

The PPP was also set up to mop-up out-of- school children in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee was inaugurated at a three-day workshop to design the PPP model in Kaduna on Thursday.

Inaugurating the committee, the Commissioner of Education, Prof. Mohammed Bello, described the development as a significant step towards addressing the challenges affecting the education sector.

Bello, who was represented by the ministry’s Director of Planning, Mr Salisu Baba, said that the committee is expected to foster collaboration between the government and the private sector on innovative funding for the education sector.

According to him, one of the major advantages of the partnership is the pooling of resources and expertise.

He said that while the public sector could provide the necessary infrastructure and funding, the private sector would bring in innovative ideas and technologies to enhance the quality of education.

He expressed confidence that the collaboration would lead to the development of modern teaching methods, improved curriculum, and better learning outcomes for students.

He equally charged the committee to assist in bridging the gap between academia and the industry.

“The committee will also ensure that the education system is aligned with the needs and demands of the labour market.

“This can result in better career prospects for students and a more skilled workforce for the country”, he said.

The commissioner urged the committee to prioritise the welfare and development of students, rather than profit dependent.

PLANE Reform Facilitator in the state, Mr Ahmed Jibril, described PPP as one of the best global practices where private sector key in to complement government efforts.

He urged the state government to consider the challenges being faced by private schools and called on the private sector to work closely with the government authorities to strengthen the education sector.

He explained that the workshop was designed to interface with the private sector and government officials and agree on how to improve education delivery systems in the state.

He equally said that the workshop was to also fashion out support to the private sector to enable them to absorb out-of-school children in their schools.

According to him, one of the supports to the private sector can be a bulk grant that will enable private school owners to build the needed structures and facilities with a view to increase their carrying capacity.

He added that the state government could also give tax waivers to private schools to enable them to absorb less-privileged children into their schools.

“Private firms or philanthropists could also be engaged to support the enrollment of out-of-school children in the state,” he added.

In his remarks, Chairman of Kaduna Chapter of the Association of Private Schools Owners in Nigeria, Mr Ajani Olawale, said that the PPP was a welcome development to improve the quality of education delivery in the state.

Olawale, however, stressed the need for capacity building of the private sector on the PPP and its benefits for both parties.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that present at the workshop were the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Association of Model Islamic Schools (AMIS), the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Kaduna State University (KASU), among others.

NAN also reports that PLANE is United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office-supported programme to deliver an inclusive and effective education system
in Nigeria.

The goal is to improve learning outcomes for students in pre-primary and primary schools. (NAN)