As 2025 draws to a close, we are pleased to take a few moments to pause, reflect and share some of the achievements and highlights of the PLANE programme in the December 2025 edition of our newsletter.

The last quarter of 2025 (September to November) marked the beginning of PLANE’s programme’s Year 4 implementation as well as the midpoint of the programme. In this edition, we are proud to highlight several key achievements, including PLANE’s progress to date and results from our Year 3 learning assessment outcomes.

Deep-rooted cultural and religious norms in some communities can unintentionally limit children’s access to formal education. In Kachako, Kano State, the UK-funded Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) programme is helping to change this through focused community advocacy and sensitisation. By establishing over 200 safe, community-based learning hubs, PLANE has created opportunities for both in-school and out-of-school children to learn. These hubs have sparked interest among children who were previously disengaged from education, including those from backgrounds resistant to Western-style schooling. Many are now beginning to embrace formal learning, marking a promising shift in attitudes and access.

To assess learners’ performance and measure
improvements over the course of three years of
implementation, PLANE, in collaboration with the
Jigawa State Government, conducted a midline
assessment during the 2024/2025 school year.
It focused on the literacy and numeracy skills of
Primary 2 and 4 learners in 34 sampled schools
across the seven intervention LGAs, using the Early
Grade Reading and Mathematics Assessment
(EGRA and EGMA) tools.

To assess learners’ performance and measure improvements over the course of three years of implementation, PLANE, in collaboration with the Kaduna State Government, conducted a midline assessment during the 2024/2025 school year.
It focused on the literacy and numeracy skills of Primary 2 and 4 learners in 43 sampled schools across 6 intervention LGAs, using the Early Grade Reading and Mathematics Assessment (EGRA and EGMA) tools.

To assess learners’ performance and measure improvements over the course of three years of implementation, PLANE, in collaboration with the Kano State Government, conducted a midline assessment during the 2024/2025 school year. The
assessment focused on the literacy and numeracy skills of Primary 2 and Primary 4 learners in 36 sampled schools across the intervention LGAs, using the Early Grade Reading and Mathematics Assessment (EGRA and EGMA) tools.

Through sensitisation and capacity-building efforts supported by the UK-funded Partnership for Learning for All in
Nigeria (PLANE) programme, education administrators in Jigawa, Kaduna and Kano states are increasingly integrating
gender and social inclusion (GESI) principles into basic education planning and delivery. This reflects a growing
commitment to building a more inclusive and equitable learning environment across the three states. New initiatives
are emerging.

We are delighted to announce the relaunch of PLANE’s external newsletter, beginning this September 2025. More than just an update, we hope this quarterly edition of our newsletter will be a platform to further support coordination with our stakeholders in the education sector, amplifying voices, celebrating partnerships, and reflecting on the positive impact we are achieving together across our programme areas.

In Jigawa, Kaduna, and Kano states, a quiet but powerful movement is taking root. Education gatekeepers – including headteachers, teachers, administrators, and social mobilisation officers are leading efforts to protect children both in schools and communities.

It began with targeted safeguarding training and continued support from the UK-funded Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) programme. Armed with knowledge and a renewed sense of responsibility, these gatekeepers are now raising awareness about the importance of child protection.

Since its inception, the UK-funded Partnership for Learning for All (PLANE) programme has
supported Kano State in improving learning outcomes for children, with efforts focused
on four LGAs: Gabasawa, Karaye, Minjibir, and Takai. Following positive results, the state
government is expanding the programme to five more LGAs: Danbatta, Gaya, Gwarzo,
Madobi, and Makoda, partnering with PLANE to train teachers and producing 5,000 copies of
Mathematics and Literacy Teacher Guides.

Foundational skills of reading, writing and mathematics set children on the path to success and lifelong learning. Yet, despite the recommendation by the United Nations that every child should have these skills by the age of 10, almost 90 per cent of children in sub-Saharan Africa are lagging behind. In Nigeria, about 70% of children have difficulty reading or understanding simple text (UNICEF, 2022).

With millions of children out-of-school in Nigeria, many of those currently in school are also not learning as they should. About half of those who attend primary schools, which is constitutionally compulsory and free, do not achieve basic proficiency in literacy and numeracy. In the northern part of the country, the percentage drops even further, with only 10% of 7–14-year-olds in the Northwest and 12% in the Northeast able to read. The learning crisis in Nigeria is fueled by many factors, including overcrowded classrooms, lack of competent teachers, shortage of learning materials in schools, and poor infrastructure. In this paper, we explore how the FCDO-funded Partnership for Learning for All in Nigerian (PLANE) programme is transforming foundational skills education in target states through the adoption of evidence-based instruction and learning materials, ongoing monitoring, and community support.

Inspired by the measurable gains achieved through the UK-funded Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) programme in selected local government areas (LGAs), the Jigawa State Government is scaling up PLANE’s evidence-based foundational learning initiatives across all its 27 LGAs. Building on proven results in seven pilot areas, this expansion includes recruiting and training teachers, reproducing instructional materials, and continuing free education for girls – a major move toward improving learning outcomes for every child.

Learning loss remains a significant challenge in Nigeria, particularly in the northern regions where the academic calendar is frequently disrupted due to factors such as floods, farming seasons and socio-cultural practices. To help children recover lost learning time and provide struggling learners with a chance to catch up outside regular school hours, the Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) piloted an Accelerated Learning Holiday Camp in December 2024 in Jigawa, Kaduna and Kano states. At least 11,597 pupils (51 percent being girls) participated in the programme, which was held in 300 camps across the three states. Assessments conducted at the end of the camp showed significant improvement in the abilities of the learners. Download to read more.