From Muawuya Bala Idris, Katsina
The Katsina State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has inaugurated a joint coordinating committee to strengthen collaboration and accelerate ongoing reforms in the education sector.
The committee, inaugurated in Katsina on Wednesday, will be chaired by the Commissioner for Education, Zainab Musawa, with membership drawn from key development partners, civil society organisations, relevant ministries, and other stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, Michael Banda from UNICEF Kano Field Office, who read the terms of reference of the committee, said the body would facilitate joint planning, budgeting, and resource mobilisation for effective education activities in the state.
According to him, the committee will monitor the implementation of the Katsina Education Sector Operational Plan while ensuring accountability and transparency in service delivery.
“The committee will also promote collaboration between ministries, departments, agencies, development partners, civil society and other stakeholders. It will further provide a platform for policy dialogue, coordination, and joint decision-making,” Banda said.
He assured UNICEF’s commitment to support the committee for an initial period of one year and urged members to remain dedicated to achieving the set objectives.
In her remarks, the Commissioner for Education, Zainab Musawa, said plans were underway to establish an Education Trust Fund to further support the sector.
She highlighted the achievements so far recorded in education reforms under the current administration, assuring that the committee’s terms of reference would be fully implemented.
Musawa also called on all stakeholders to support the reforms, stressing that the collective effort of all partners was vital to improving education delivery across the state.
Our correspondent reports that the inauguration was attended by representatives from Save the Children, TESS, AGILE, Parent Teachers Association, Katsina Education Trust Fund, Giri Child Education, and Umaru Musa Yaradua University, among others.
