UNICEF’s Chief of Education for Nigeria, Vanessa Lee, yesterday commended the Kaduna State Government for its efforts in transforming the education sector.
Lee, who came to Kaduna for the ongoing two-day International Education Summit, ‘KADAEduPact 2025′, made the commendation while at a field visit to some selected schools?to assess UNICEF’s interventions.
She visited Government Junior Secondary School, Kakuri, a pilot for the Teaching at Right Level (TaRL) and Alhuda Charity Islamiya School Kwaru, Badarawa,an integrated Quranic school.
Other school visited by Lee was LGEA Primary School Lokoja Road, Rigasa, where she said she was impressed by the government’s efforts to improve education.
Lee expressed her happiness for the state’s progress, highlighting the enthusiasm and motivation of teachers.
The UNICEF education chief observed that the state’s education system has many good teachers who were enthusiastic and motivated, which was crucial for children’s learning.
She, however, stated that infrastructure, textbooks, and furniture were areas that required attention.
Lee, however, expressed excitement to hear about the state’s plans to scale up teaching programmes, including TaRL and early childhood programmes.
She praised the state’s adoption of innovative models, such as the learning lab, which focuses on teachers’ professional development.
Lee also commended the use of radio for teaching basic literacy and numeracy in integrated Quranic schools.
She highlighted the importance of a digitalised data system in helping the state’s education sector develop and make a difference for children.
Lee expressed hope for the future of education in Kaduna, citing the state’s knowledge of the challenges it faces and its efforts to address them.
She emphasised the importance of teacher training and professional development, highlighting the Nigerian Learning Passport, an online learning platform that provides teacher modules and learning programs for children.
“I am excited to hear about special classes for children who haven’t been to school, which aim to bring them back into the education system,” she added.