The acting Director General of the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), Dr David Shofoyeke has revealed that international organizations have expressed readiness to partner with state governors for reforms in the nation’s education sector.
He said that the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) would be engaging the institute on education sector plans, operational plans as well as strategic operational plans.
The DG who spoke at the weekend during a 5-day in-house training workshop for academic staff of the Institute in its headquarters explained that the institute was determined to achieve its mission of developing education sector planners and managers, “ through capacity building, continuous training, consulting, research, information dissemination and resource center services.”
He added that various international development partners would help different states in Nigeria to develop fresh education sector plans where they do not exist, “ and also, review these plans where they already exist but do not meet up with the standard contemporary requirements. “
Shofoyeke said, “ Most of the states in Nigeria have new governors with new programmes, plans, policies and agendas as regards the education sector they want to translate into action. An education plan is very important to guide them in the implementation of their various agendas for the education sector.
“A trainer must be more exposed than the trainee. Knowledge is not static and changes have occurred. We need to be conversant with contemporary issues and knowledge in educational issues.”
The coordinator of the NIEPA liaison office in the South West zone, Dr Lara Ogunsola urged the participants to open themselves to learning and develop in the interest of the nation’s education system. “This workshop aims to sharpen the skills of NIEPA professional staff on evidence-based, Gender transformative, equity/disability inclusive and crisis resilient education sector plan,” she said.