The Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has approved the implementation of four years promotion arrears for teachers and staff of the State’s Universal Basic Education Board (KWSUBEB).

The SUBEB Chairman, Professor Shehu Adaramaja who made this known during the commissioning of operational vehicles, motorcycles, electronic gadgets and instructional materials for basic schools, triggered widespread applause from teachers and other workers.

They hailed the decision as timely and fitting for the administration’s record of hearkening to the yearnings of the people.

Public basic school teachers in Kwara State were last promoted in 2017.

According to Adaramaja, the conduct of 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 promotion examinations and oral interviews has been expressly approved by the Governor to hold between the 2nd and 5th August 2021.

“Outstanding salary arrears of staff is also not left out as the process is at its peak. We say a big thank you to His Excellency for considering the plight of our staff and finding a solution to the agitation of our staff,” he added.

The Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Kayode Alabi said that the administration has unlocked the goldmine of opportunities to revitalise basic education in the state with the renewed relationship with the Universal Basic Education Commission after seven years of an official blacklist of the state.

“Except for the 12-seater bus which has been donated to us by Unity Bank Plc all these facilities are some of the gains of our renewed relationship with the Universal Basic Education Commission,” he said.

AbdulRazaq also acknowledged the prudent management of scarce resources by the leadership of KWSUBEB, leading to the procurement of 1,500 cartoons of white chalks from Kwara State College of Education (Technical), Lafiagi.

The Governor disclosed that the interesting thing is that these facilities are what Kwara should have been enjoying if the last administration had played its own roles stressing that it is a confirmation of the present administration’s position that the last administration opted to kill basic education in the state.

“Our efforts have been to restore quality, dignity, and citizens’ confidence to public basic education in the state,” the Governor said.

The Governor added that the tools would not only improve the standard of basic education in the state but would also provide an enabling environment for adequate monitoring and supervision of teaching and learning activities across our schools as well complement the ongoing renovation and remodelling of classrooms across over 600 schools in the state.

“Except for the 12-seater bus which has been donated to us by Unity Bank Plc all these facilities are some of the gains of our renewed relationship with the Universal Basic Education Commission,” he said.

AbdulRazaq also acknowledged the prudent management of scarce resources by the leadership of KWSUBEB, leading to the procurement of 1,500 cartoons of white chalks from Kwara State College of Education (Technical), Lafiagi.

The Governor disclosed that the interesting thing is that these facilities are what Kwara should have been enjoying if the last administration had played its own roles stressing that it is a confirmation of the present administration’s position that the last administration opted to kill basic education in the state.

“Our efforts have been to restore quality, dignity, and citizens’ confidence to public basic education in the state,” the Governor said.

The Governor added that the tools would not only improve the standard of basic education in the state but would also provide an enabling environment for adequate monitoring and supervision of teaching and learning activities across our schools as well complement the ongoing renovation and remodelling of classrooms across over 600 schools in the state.

“When you add that to the recent recruitment of 4,701 teachers through a process that was the best of its kind in the recent history of Kwara State, you will see that our vision is comprehensive and clear. On August 5, we will bring stakeholders together to a summit to evolve a holistic strategy for the future of our education sector,” he further disclosed.

AbdulRazaq applauded the Unity Bank PLC for the donation of a 12-seater Hyundai bus and the UBEC management for their support to the State Government and Kwara SUBEB in providing the materials/equipment needed in the schools.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Mrs Adeoshun Mary Kemi applauded the Governor for his giant strides in the education sector.

“You cannot appreciate the magnitude of the contributions of this administration without being reminded of the pathetic situation of the education sector before the advent of the Otoge mantra. The previous administrations left the educational system to a near collapse. The infrastructures were dilapidated and abandoned, there were acute shortages of facilities in the schools, irregularity in the remuneration of teachers and lack of adequate office equipment to monitor schools’ activities,” she said.

The state chairman NUT, Comrade Olu Adewara commended Governor AbdulRazaq for his interest in promoting the welfare of teachers and the development of the education sector in the state.

“This is a good development. It is good news to us, coming at a very good time. I believe everyone hearing this will appreciate the Governor for being so good to us. We want to appreciate him in all respects, particularly on this promotion exercise so pronounced.

“The beauty of this is that these promotion exercises (2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020), going by the good understanding we have with the government, will come with cash backing.

“I can say that this administration from inception brought a permanent end to salaries being paid on percentages. On the account of salaries being paid in percentages, we have salaries arrears of about three months and 43%. We want to plead with His Excellency to further look at our direction and clear the outstanding salaries arrears of about three months and 43%.”

The items commissioned were: an 18 seater hummer bus for the Quality Assurance Department; (5) 2020 Model Hilux Van for project monitoring; 45 Bajaj boxers motorcycles for schools supervision; (40) Samsung galaxy tab A for e-quality assurance for the Quality Assurance Officers; 10 sets of computer system for project monitoring; 20 digital calipers for project unit; 1 projector for Quality Assurance Department; and instructional materials for schools and library books and shelves for basic schools to encourage reading culture

His Excellency, the Deputy Governor, Mr Kayode Alabi represented the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq in a well attended historic football competition among primary schools pupils in the 16 LGEAs held at the Main bowl of Kwara State Stadium complex, Ilorin last Thursday 14/08/2021

The Deputy Governor took the kickoff onbehalf of the Governor. Isin LGEA Team played against Ilorin East LGEA Team at the final match. The match ended 1-0 in favour of Ilorin East LGEA Team. Irepodun LGEA Team took the 3rd position.

It would be recalled that the last edition of Governor's cup amongst primary schools pupils was in 1997.

Dignitaries at the final match include Hon Magaji Olawoyin, Leader kWHA who represented the Hon Speaker, KWHA; Bar Salman Jawondo, Commissioner for Justice; Hajia Hassanat Ahmed, Hon Commissioner for special duties; Hon Baba Salihu Boriya, Chairman KWHA Committee on Education; Hon Awodiji, Vice Chairman, KWHA Committee on sportsMallam Rafiu Ajakaye, CPS; Hajia Iya Lamule, SSA women affairs; Several Permanent Secretaries; Chairman and members of the newly constituted Kwara State Sports Commission; the 16 LGEAs Education Secretaries and host of others.

Universal Basic Education Board has approved the location of one of its smart schools in Kwara State -- another major fruit of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s investments in basic education.

UBEC had earlier approved the construction of the first set of the smart schools in 2019 in 20 states but Kwara was clearly not considered because of its pariah status between 2013 and 2019.

Designed to offer 21st century education, the ‘smart school’ would comprise comprehensive IT-enabled basic classes that would accommodate preschoolers, primary classes and junior secondary school classes, fitted with accessories like e-libraries, clinic and laboratories that make a complete school in the internet age.

UBEC preconditions contained in the award letter included that the school be sited at a secured location in the capital town of the beneficiary states.

Speaking at the inspection of the proposed site for the school in Ilorin on Saturday, UBEC national consultant for the project Prof. Masud Abdulkareem said they were in the state to conclude all preliminary works, including suitability of the site, prior to the construction which will take 12 months.

Abdulkareem, a professor of architecture, described the smart school concept introduced by UBEC chief Dr. Hamid Bobboyi as a game changer in basic education in Nigeria.

His words: “With a smart school, a teacher at UBEC headquarters in Abuja or anywhere in the world can teach simultaneously to students in all the schools in Nigeria. UBEC has engaged one of best ICT companies in the world a leading (Who Are We). It is the one to equip and provide the software for the learning materials.

“This is the second phase of smart school proposed by UBEC. This team is sent by the Executive Secretary of UBEC to come and access the suitability of the site. I have a team of experts that will do the geo-technical and geophysical survey to establish the appropriateness and capacity of the soil so that the foundation will be done.
“We are lucky from what I am seeing because the first criteria is that the school must be within a community as this one. It is not in an isolated location so that security will not become a problem. We have seen that this place is very secured in a fenced environment.

“So, here we don't have the problem of suitability. The proposed smart school has three components -- for nursery, primary and junior secondary schools. With the programme, a three-year old can come to school safely. This place is ideal for the project. Within a week, we will produce the foundation engineering drawing so that the construction work will start.

“This exercise is also to handover the place to the contractor and begin the process of mobilisation. The school is expected to be self-sufficient in terms of water supply and electricity supply.

“UBEC is giving the minimum and later handover to SUBEB after completion. The state can begin to think of how to make the school a hub of ICT for the benefit of the state.”

UBEC Contractor-in-charge of the project Alhaji Abdulkadir Umar promised to deliver a quality job in line with the specifications.

Chairman of Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board, Prof Shehu Raheem Adaramaja said the state could have been a part of the first batch, which it did not make as a result of the strained relationship the former administration had with the agency over non-payment of counterpart funds and diversion of funds.

“We appreciate the UBEC for the consideration given to us and for the selection of the contractor. We pray that the contractor will work very fast and make the facility available for Kwarans,” he said.

“We have talked to ourselves and we will do everything possible to assist the contractor to ensure that the construction will not last more than 12 months as given to us. Anything that will make it last longer than 12 months, Kwarans and of course our governor will not take it from us. We will not compromise on quality jobs.”

The Governor had only recently reset the relationship between Kwara and UBEC by paying back funds diverted by the former administration and paying backlog of counterpart funds not accessed since 2013.

This has unlocked various opportunities for the state in the basic education sector, including ongoing construction works across 600 schools in the state.

The Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), in conjunction with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), has commenced the 2nd phase of training for Quality Assurance Officers across the state. This is in addition to the ongoing School-based training programs for all categories of teachers, especially the newly recruited teachers taking place in designated centres across the 16 LGEAs.

The Quality Assurance training was introduced to help the staff of the Department (QAD) in educational system solutions. The school-based training programmes have been designed to prepare the teachers ahead of school resumption in September.

The 5-day capacity building training, which commenced on Monday 23 August 2021, is scheduled to run for a whole week. The venue of the QAD training is e-phonix hotel, Fate/GRA area, Ilorin.

Similar systematic training was organised for Head Teachers and School Support Officers (SSOs) early this month at Bishop Smith LGEA school, Ilorin. Facilitators were selected from Kwara State College of Education, Oro. The facilitators were exposed to similar training by UBEC last year. The train-the-trainers workshop was held in Abuja and Ibadan.

The sixteen (16) Education Secretaries in Kwara State meanwhile are expected to join their colleagues in North Central, Nigeria, in Lafia, Nasarawa State between 21st & 24th September,2021 for teachers' professional development and schools' administration capacity building.

KWSUBEB chairman, Professor Adaramaja, while declaring the training open, reiterated the efforts of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulrRazaq in strengthening transparency, accountability and probity in basic education system in the state.

He called on the Quality Assurance Officers to work assiduously for sustainability, ensure synergy in schools and enforce compliance with ethics of teaching profession by all and sundry.

Adaramaja charged the participants to take the training serious, noting that whatever knowledge received in the course of the training will go a long way in helping the education system in the state.

He said that the motive behind the initiative was geared towards improving the standard of basic education in the state.

He urged participants to demonstrate passion for knowledge, especially from the training.

He advised Quality Assurance Officers to work very hard to ensure they improve on the system.

The Chairman thanked the Executive Secretary, UBEC, Dr Hamid Bobboyi, for the consideration given to KWSUBEB to benefit from the training programmes. He appreciated the team of UBEC facilitators for their efforts.

Promotion exams now Wednesday (2017 & 2018) and Thursday (2019 & 2020) for levels 07 & above. While Monday and Tuesday will be used for levels 01 - 06 interviews.

The KWSUBEB wish to inform both the Teaching and non-Teaching staff of the Board that promotion Examination and oral interview for the year 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 will come up as follows: