The United Nation’s Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has developed a state education sector plan (SESP) and state education sector operational plan (SESOP) for Gombe State in order to address the problem of out of schools children in the state.

Our correspondent reports that the plans were sponsored by UNICEF and drafted by the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) in collaboration with the Gombe State ministry of education and other stakeholders.

Speaking during the dissemination of the plans for the stakeholders in the state, the head of training and research of NIEPA Dr Samson Oyeromi representing the director general explained that the plans are crucial for the educational development of the state noting that without them, the state has no direction for the education sector.

He stated that there are a lot of out of schools children in the state adding that the former education plan in Gombe State did not have inclusiveness that would take care of all including the ‘almajiris’ (Children begging on the streets), girls and persons with disabilities, but that the new plans cater for all and sundry and aim to take them back to schools.

He further said climate change would also be taken into consideration in the plans so that it does not affect children’s attendance in schools.

The UNICEF Bauchi field office education specialist Mr Abdulrahman Ibrahim Ado explained that the plans were meant to increase access to education and quality learning saying that, that could not be achieved without such plans.

According to him, the plans propose specific activities and cost effectiveness where each and every ministry, department and agency would contribute financially to funding the activities to address the out of schools children problem in the state.

Ado noted that SESP is a 10-year plan that gives direction on what to achieve while SESOP is a three-year plan that help to come up with specific activities for execution.

He revealed that they started the development of the plans last year and they were now disseminating the results to the stakeholders.

Gombe State ministry of education permanent secretary Abubakar Adamu commended UNICEF for the development of the document opining that it would serve as a roadmap in the education sector development in the state.

He expressed the ministry’s commitment to ensure timely implementation of the plans.