The Partnership for Learning for All Nigerian Education (PLANE) in collaboration with education sector parastatals and agencies has conveyed a 2-day validation meeting on “Draft Professional Standards for School Leadership in Nigeria”. The discussion which was held at Golden Dabis Hotel in Keffi, Nasarawa State between 4 and 5 December 2023 dissected issues such as Promoting School Improvement and Innovation, Leading Teaching and Learning, Developing Self and Others, Leading and Managing the School and Engaging and Working with the Community.

The meeting recognized and acknowledged that the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) domiciled in Ondo is the only institution empowered by the National Policy in Education to build and develop the capacity of educational leaders, planners, and managers of which School leadership is not an exception. The Registrar, of the Teachers Registration Council, Prof Josiah Ajiboye who echoed this fact also added that the document on the Professional Standard for School Leadership in Nigeria shall be pushed to the National Council on Education (NCE) for approval in the year 2024.

Representatives of education parastatals and agencies such as NIEPA Ondo, Universal Basic Education (UBEC), Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), National Commission for Persons with Disabilities Kaduna SUBEB, and the British Council also delivered goodwill messages in tandem with the subject matter of the consultation. They all supported the policy and implored TRCN to follow up on approval by NCE.

FCIDO-PLANE is one of the new development partners brought on board under the leadership of NIEPA’s Ag. Director General/CE, Dr. David Shofoyeke. Within the five-month life span of the Shofoyeke-led management in NIEPA, Development partners such as UNICEF, USAID, World Bank, and Common Wealth of Learning which hitherto had severed relationship are gradually restoring their professional and cordial working relationships with the Institute.