BY TAIBAT UMMI YAKUBU
Governor Dikko Radda has launched a major education initiative designed to expand access to quality learning opportunities across Katsina State, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to ensuring that every child receives not just schooling, but meaningful education.
The programme, known as SCALE Nigeria—short for Scaling Access and Learning in Education—is being implemented through a partnership involving UK development partners and non-governmental organisations. The initiative seeks to address barriers preventing thousands of children from accessing quality education while improving learning outcomes across the state.
The official launch, held in Katsina on Thursday, attracted representatives of the British High Commission, education experts, development partners, civil society organisations, teachers, community leaders and other stakeholders in the education sector.
Speaking at the event, Radda stressed that the true measure of educational success goes beyond classroom enrolment figures, arguing that the ultimate goal must be effective learning and the overall wellbeing of pupils.
According to the governor, simply placing children in schools is not enough if they are unable to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in life.
“Education is not simply about getting a child into a school. That is only the beginning. Learning is the ultimate objective,” he said.
He noted that children must not only be enrolled and attend classes regularly, but must also learn in safe and supportive environments. Likewise, teachers, he added, require adequate support and professional development to deliver quality instruction effectively.
Radda highlighted a series of interventions already undertaken by his administration to strengthen the education sector, including school improvement programmes, teacher support initiatives and collaborations with development organisations working to improve learning standards.
He expressed confidence that SCALE Nigeria would complement ongoing efforts by providing new opportunities for vulnerable children, especially those who face difficulties accessing formal education.
The governor also reiterated his administration’s commitment to creating inclusive and secure learning environments while investing in teacher development as a key strategy for improving educational outcomes.
He explained that the state's vision extends beyond implementing temporary interventions, stressing that government aims to build a resilient education system capable of sustaining long-term progress.
“Our ambition is not just to run accelerated programmes. We want to establish an education system that continues to improve itself and adopts approaches that have proven to deliver results,” he said.
Radda further disclosed that the government would evaluate successful strategies emerging from the programme and integrate them into the state’s education framework to ensure sustainability after donor-supported interventions come to an end.
He described development partners as more than financial contributors, saying they bring valuable expertise, innovation, technical knowledge and systems capable of transforming educational delivery.
The governor welcomed deeper international collaboration, assuring partners that his administration would work closely with them to ensure successful interventions are properly understood, adopted and sustained within the state's education system.
He maintained that investments in education represent investments in the future prosperity of Katsina, noting that today's pupils could become tomorrow's teachers, engineers, entrepreneurs, scientists, public servants and leaders.
Radda also pledged to examine concerns relating to allowances and welfare packages for personnel involved in implementing the programme, saying improved support structures could further enhance its effectiveness.
Calling for collective commitment from all stakeholders, the governor described education as a shared responsibility that requires the active participation of government, communities, development partners, teachers and parents.
Earlier, a representative of the British High Commission, Ian Attefield, said UK development partners and non-governmental organisations would collaborate closely with the Katsina State Government to tackle the challenge of out-of-school children and strengthen the Almajiri and Tsangaya education system.
Attefield explained that the partnership seeks to increase access to education while improving learning outcomes for children who face obstacles to formal schooling.
He reaffirmed the commitment of UK development partners to supporting the state's education reforms through sustained collaboration with government institutions and other relevant stakeholders.
The launch of SCALE Nigeria is expected to deepen cooperation among government agencies, international partners, communities, educators and civil society groups as efforts intensify to ensure that more children in Katsina have access to quality education and better learning opportunities.
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!