In a significant move to address a deepening learning crisis, the Jigawa State Government is expanding a successful foundational literacy and numeracy program to all 27 local government areas (LGAs). This initiative, inspired by the measurable gains of the UK-funded Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE), aims to reverse the trend of “learning poverty,” where children complete basic education without essential reading and math skills.
The statewide scale-up builds on a successful pilot program conducted by PLANE in seven LGAs. The expansion will involve recruiting and training thousands of new teachers, reproducing proven instructional materials, and continuing the state’s free education policy for girls.
This move comes as Nigeria confronts troubling educational statistics. According to a 2022 UNICEF report, 70% of Nigerian children between the ages of 7 and 14 are unable to read a simple sentence or solve a basic math problem. The crisis is particularly acute in northern Nigeria, with Jigawa State facing stark challenges. A recent PLANE assessment found that less than 10% of pupils in the state meet minimum proficiency levels in literacy (2%) and numeracy (0.8%).
The PLANE pilot program, active since 2021, has already demonstrated significant results. In participating schools, approximately 30% of children showed progress in literacy levels, while nearly half improved their mathematics skills. These outcomes prompted the state government to take ownership and expand the evidence-based model.
“Any spending on education is meant to achieve three things: quality education, learning outcomes and teacher productivity,” stated Jigawa’s Commissioner for Basic Education, Dr. Lawan Yunusa Danzomo. “If the teacher doesn’t work and the child doesn’t learn, your investment is useless.”
To address a critical teacher shortage, the government has already hired 7,500 new educators, 3,000 on a permanent basis and 4,500 as part of a temporary program. Dr. Danzomo noted that teachers were recruited locally to ensure they remain in their communities.
Tasiru Guda, the Deputy Director of Planning, Research and Statistics at the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), confirmed the collaborative nature of the scale-up. “PLANE intervenes in seven LGAs… We have remaining at least 10 LGAs that are left behind. That is where SUBEB intervened to scale the PLANE interventions. They give us all necessary technical advice for that scale-up,” Guda said.
The government is currently printing and distributing PLANE-adopted textbooks across the state, covering the cost of all pupil books, while PLANE has supported the initiative with teacher guides and training. The initial pilot reached over 2,500 teachers and 330,000 learners. The statewide expansion is projected to benefit nearly 1,000 additional schools.
By committing state funds and leveraging the proven strategies of partners like PLANE, Jigawa’s comprehensive approach is being positioned as a potential model for other Nigerian states grappling with similar educational challenges.
“What we are trying to do is to improve foundational learning and numeracy for our children in schools so that gradually, we can continue to build the foundation of their intellectual development up to the highest level,” concluded Commissioner Danzomo.
