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  • Benue SUBEB marks 100days, promises more reforms

    Benue SUBEB marks 100days, promises more reforms

    The Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) with the support of the State Governor Dr Hyacinth Iormem Alia  has celebrated 100 days under the  leadership of its  Executive Chairman Dr Grace Adagba.

     A statement by the board’s  Information  Officer, Emmanuella Akese hailed Adagba for revitalising the education sector with a blend of visionary strategies and hands-on initiatives.

    It noted  Adagba’s leadership was  already being felt across the state, with improvement in learning outcomes, increased enrollment rates, and a renewed sense of optimism among educators and students alike.

    According to the statement, since  she  assumed office,  on 15 December, 2023, the Benue SUBEB boss has facilitated projects to improve teachers’ welfare, infrastructure,teaching and learning,among others.

    It reads: “Under Adagba’s stewardship, Benue SUBEB has embarked on a comprehensive agenda of reform, encompassing infrastructure development, teacher capacity building, curriculum enhancement, and community engagement. From the refurbishment of schools to the introduction of innovative teaching methodologies, her leadership has heralded a new era of progress and innovation in the State’s educational system.One of the hallmarks of her  tenure has been her emphasis on inclusiveness and Stakeholders engagement.

    Read Also: Niger SUBEB unveils plan to address teacher imbalance

    “Recognising the importance of collaboration in driving sustainable change, she has actively involved teachers, parents, community leaders, and other stakeholders in  decision-making process, fostering a culture of ownership and collective responsibility.

    “Her tenure has been marked by a relentless pursuit of excellence and an unwavering commitment to ensuring that every child in Benue has access to quality basic education.

    “She created a robust information dissemination system on all activities of the Board through the creation of a Benue SUBEB YouTube Channel, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook platforms as well as equipping the Information and Protocol Unit with gadgets to facilitate their work.”

    Speaking on her 100 days in office, she noted that the journey had just begun, adding that together with her team she would continue to strive for excellence and build a better future for the next generation.

  • Niger SUBEB unveils plan to address teacher imbalance

    Niger SUBEB unveils plan to address teacher imbalance

    The Niger State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB) has disclosed plans to tackle the challenges of over-concentration and inadequacy of teachers in certain areas of the state.

    This, according to the Board Chairman, Mallam Baba Mohammed Ibrahim, would mark the beginning of a comprehensive initiative to reshape the educational landscape in the state.

    Acknowledging the imbalance in teacher distribution across various regions, the NSUBEB Chairman emphasised the need for a strategic overhaul.

    Speaking to journalists in Minna, the chairman revealed plans to conduct a thorough local government-based assessment, adding that this initiative would identify areas with teacher over-concentration and those facing inadequacy, laying the groundwork for a more balanced and efficient deployment.

    He stated that while recognising the potential challenges in this redistribution effort, the NSUBEB is committed to minimising disruptions and ensuring that teachers are placed where their skills are most needed, adding that this approach involves a meticulous analysis of local educational needs, allowing for a nuanced and responsive reallocation of teaching resources.

    Read Also: 15 escape death as private jet overshoots runway at Ibadan Airport 

    “It is true that we have in some places over concentration and in some places inadequacy of teachers. We had a meeting with the education secretaries last week and everyone was asked to bring basic statistics of the schools and teachers.

    “We would do an assessment and see how many schools are there, how many teachers are there and then we will redistribute according to the needs of the various schools, based on the community level. We want to look at issues more realistically. We will look at those things and if we still have gaps, we can go to the government and look at possibilities where we can get more hands to compliment the shortfall”, he said.

    Ibrahim further highlighted other strategies by NSUBEB to enhance the quality of basic education in the State to include initiatives to improve teacher training, revamp infrastructure, introduce arts and crafts into the curriculum, and integrate out-of-school children into the formal education system.

  • Commission trains SUBEB directors onimproved programmes

    Commission trains SUBEB directors onimproved programmes

    The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) yesterday trained the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) directors to improve their skills on Universal Basic Education (UBE) programmes.

    Its Executive Secretary, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, who said this at a capacity-building workshop in Abuja, urged the participants to key to the attainment of the set objectives aimed at universalising basic education nationwide.

    Bobboyi was represented by Prof. Bala Zakari, the Deputy Executive Secretary in charge of Technical.

    According to him, participants should ensure that stakeholders particularly the beneficiaries of UBE services support the government’s initiatives in the programme implementation.

    “As you are aware, the UBE programme seeks to ensure unhindered access to quality basic education for every Nigerian child regardless of gender, socio-economic background or geographical location.

    “You are also aware that this idea can only be attained, if all stakeholders commit to ensuring that UBE activities are well planned, implemented and sustained at the federal, state and local government levels.

    “This is in line with the peculiarities of the needs of specific classes of learners in each domain.

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    “You will agree that achieving success in this regard demands among others, consensus building, effective partnerships, and synergies across all segments of the UBE delivery processes,’’ UBEC chief said.

    He added that the workshop was a deliberate plan to further sharpen the skills of the officers as well as challenge the effective deployment of their inert potentials.

    The executive secretary expressed optimism that the training would further encourage officials to carry out their functions, especially in the areas of sensitisation, advocacy and mobilisation.

    “You will agree with me that only competent and skilled officials can successfully coordinate and provide the desired leadership in the implementation of essential UBE delivery programmes.

    “Especially in advocacy, sensitisation and mobilisation campaigns, School Based Management Committee School Improvement Programme (SBMC-SIP), and the Open Schooling Programme, (OSP).

    “Other critical initiatives are effective School Programme (ESP), UBE Partnerships, Enrolment Drive, Out-of-School Children related interventions, and other key reform initiatives,’’ he said.

    In her remarks, the Deputy Director, Social Mobilisation Department of the commission, Hajia Sidikat Shomope, charged participants on new ideas for better education delivery outcome.

    Shomope also urged the participants to acquaint themselves with best practices that would take Nigerian education sector to a greater height.

    The training was organised for SUBEB Directors of Social Mobilisation and UBEC Social Mobilisation Officers across the 36 states and FCT.

  • Almajiri education: Govt begins fresh pilot test in Kano, Oyo, seven others

    No take no fewer than 10 million out-of-school  children – mostly Almajiris – off the streets to acquire education and skills, the Federal Government is set to restart the Almajiri education.

    The pilot test will take off in nine states, eight of them in the North and only Oyo State in the South.

    The other states are Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Niger, Adamawa, Bauchi, Yobe and Jigawa.

    It was learnt that the government opted for a new model because state governments declined to buy into the Almajiri education programme initiated by the late President Umar Yar’Adua and sustained by the Goodluck Jonathan presidency.

    During President Jonathan’s tenure, the Almajiri committee headed by ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo provided infrastructure nationwide, many states failed to participate, claiming they could not afford the boarding school format.

    Some Almajiri schools in some states have been turned into Command Secondary Schools.

    Many states failed to access the fund made available while some which accessed the funds for the scheme were found to have diverted it.

    Based on the general poor attitude towards the scheme, the Federal Government decided to change tactics by opting for the Integrated Education approach, beginning with a pilot test in nine states.

    The pilot test, which  is expected to last two years, enjoys the support of some international organisations.

    A document obtained by The Nation gave insights into teething problems associated with the Almajiri programme since 2014.

    Read Also: Blame state govts for menace of Almajiri education system — Buhari

    The document reads: “The new scheme came out of consultations with relevant stakeholders, including State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs). The earlier school project was abandoned by state governors, except Jigawa, Sokoto and Kaduna. In Zamfara and Katsina, the Almajiri schools were allocated to the military to build command schools.

    “The administration of ex-Governor Murtala Nyako did not even inaugurate one Almajiri school during his tenure in Adamawa.

    “When some states accessed their funds, they diverted same. For instance, Zamfara SUBEB chairman has been jailed. The last administration in Kwara State was accused of diverting matching grants.

    “During the first tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari, most governors abandoned the Almajiri programme for “other priority projects”.

    “The programme cannot succeed without the support of governors. They are to deploy Western Education teachers, possibly feed the children and the Universal Basic Education Commission will train the teachers, provide instructional materials and other necessary things. UBEC built structures which have been largely abandoned.”

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Under the new approach, proper consultations are made with the states, local governments, communities and other stakeholders including school proprietors.

    “We seriously need the input of the governors because it is their responsibility to care  for  the basic education of every child for nine years (six years in primary school and three years in Junior Secondary School). UBEC is just assisting the states to address basic education challenges, including allocation of matching grants.

    “Some states are not even accessing their matching grants simply because they have to make their counterpart funds available before collecting their grants.

    “In 2018, 24 states  did not access N47billion matching grant  accruable to them between 2015 and 2017. As at June 2019, the un-accessed grant in UBEC had risen to N84billion because states are avoiding payment of counterpart funds.

    “Almajiri Education and qualitative  Basic Education will be achieved if the governors want it to work.”

    The Executive Secretary of Universal Basic Education Commission(UBEC), Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, said: “We are not abandoning Almajiri project. We are starting a pilot project in nine states, which will be for a period of two years. The new pilot scheme is still largely Almajiri, but with Integrated Education which will take about 10million children away from the streets. It is about different sides of the same coin. It is to widen our choices.

    “It is a change of direction but working closely with stakeholders, especially school proprietors and those at the grassroots.

    “It is more of a modified approach rather than the idea of building schools and asking government to support. To ensure it works, we have now involved communities and other stakeholders for sustainability. We are actually going to the grassroots.

    “Between 2013 and 2014, schools were built but states cannot put these Almajiri in boarding. Initially, there was trust in building Almajiri model schools but later we had school standing without pupils. Having had the experience in the past few years, we believe we must change tactics.

    “We are involving all stakeholders including State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs).”

  • Holidays: SUBEB boss urges parents to monitor kids

    With plenty of time and energy to burn during the long holidays, Chairman, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr Ganiyu Sopeyin, has advised parents to pay attention to their wards as the schools are not in session.

    While decrying the increasing trend of cultism and drug abuse among children during a TV show last weekend, Sopeyin, underscored the importance of parents monitoring their wards now that schools are not in session.

    Beyond checking their movements, she counseled parents to keep their  young ones productively engaged and encourage them to read as children are more vulnerable during the holidays.

    “The underlying fact here is that children generally are more vulnerable during the holidays hence, the need to pay adequate attention to all that they do during this period and if possible regulate their exposure to negative things on the social media,” he said.

    He said the task of fighting cultism and drug abuse must not be left to government alone, but be complemented by parents and non-governmental organisations.

    He said community leaders and other stakeholders must be concerned about stamping out vices, which are ways of exploiting children.

    Sopeyin assured parents and guardians that the government would not relent in protecting children from the menace of cultism and drug abuse.

    He also said the registration of children into Primary One classes of public primary schools was still ongoing, urging parents to take advantage of the extension, which runs through September to enrol their children.

    The SUBEB chairman also called on parents to take advantage of the recently launched free health mission tagged: “Healthy Bee Project”, by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to take their wards to the various centres for adequate medical attention so that the children would be healthier when schools resume for the next academic session.

  • Gombe SUBEB committed to tackling menace of out-of-school children

    Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has restated its commitment to addressing the menace of out-of-school children in the state.

    Mrs Zulaihatu Madugu, Acting Secretary of the board, gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Gombe.

    Madugu said statistics of out-of-school children was worrisome to government, educationists and all stakeholders across the country.

    She stated that the board had done a lot in tackling the challenge in the state.

    According to her education is a right that must be enjoyed by the Nigerian child irrespective of background and location.

    “The board has recruited more teachers with the state government building more classrooms while improving on existing facilities to tackle the menace.

    “We are putting all strategies in place to ensure we tackle the challenge of out-of-school children in the state. It is worrisome but we are reversing the trend.

    “We are providing more facilities in schools to accommodate more pupils and students while strengthening our enrolment drive to schools across the state.

    “We recruited over 1,700 teachers and care-givers last year to complement our staff strength.

    “It is just in efforts to build our capacities towards addressing the challenges, knowing fully well that the enrolment drive will reduce the number of out-of-school children.

    “We are also partnering with the World Bank and other willing partners in efforts to see that the statistics is shot down. We are not relenting as a board,” she said.

    Madugu stressed that several partnerships were ongoing with Islamic Development Bank and other foreign organisations.

    She charged all stakeholders in the education sector of the state to see the menace as a collective task that must be addressed.

    The acting secretary said this was to better the future of the country rather than leave the responsibilities to government alone.

    NAN

  • UPDATED: Delta suspends head teacher over Success’ viral video

    The Delta State government has suspended the headmistress of Okotie-Eboh Primary School 1, Sapele Local Government of the state, Mrs. Vero Igbigwe.

    She was suspended following the viral video where little Success Adegor was sent home over her parents’ failure to pay her examination levies.

    Igbigwe was suspended on Monday when the Commissioner for Education, Barr. Chiedu Ebie, visited the school.

    The head teacher, according to the commissioner, could not explain the alleged illegal collection of examination levies from the school students.

    A statement by the commissioner explained why primary and secondary education in Delta remained free, insisting the head teacher had no right to impose any levy.

    READ ALSO: Breaking: Delta suspends head teacher over Success’s viral video

    He said: “In my brief encounter with the Head Teacher this morning, there appeared to be numerous inconsistencies in her response on this issue as she was unable to categorically state who authorized her to impose the levies or fees which is in clear breach of the extant rules.

    “Consequently I have directed the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to suspend the Head Teacher pending the outcome of a formal enquiry into the issue of unauthorised levies/ and fees imposed by her in the School.”

    On concerns over infrastructural decay in the school, Ebie said: “Having discovered the dilapidated state of the infrastructure in the Schools, steps were immediately taken by the State Government, through the Ministry of Basic & Secondary Education, to carry out a phased renovation and upgrade of the infrastructural facilities beginning with Okotie Eboh Primary School II.

    “It is important to place on record and for the avoidance of doubt that the Contract of the first phase was awarded on the 29th of December, 2018 and work has since commenced.”

  • Katsina releases N400m for S-Power employees’ stipends

    The Katsina State government has released N400 million for the payment of monthly stipends to 5,000 youths engaged in the newly introduced state-power programme tagged “S-Power”.

    The youths engaged in the programme, mostly holders of Nigeria Certificate of Education (NCE) and Diploma in Education certificates, have been deployed to primary schools to reduce manpower shortage there.

    Gov Aminu Masari, while inaugurating the programme in July 2018, had said that it was aimed at reducing redundancy and indolence among youths.

    Malam Lawal Buhari, Executive Chairman, Katsina State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), who spoke on the scheme in an interview with the Agency on Friday in Daura, said that the participants would be paid the four months stipend they were owed.

    Read Also: Fed Govt to rehabilitate Kastina roads

    “Each of the participants will receive N80,000 for the four months; the monthly stipend is N20,000 as indicated in their letters of engagement,” he said.

    He explained that payment would be at selected local education authority offices,  adding that the 34 local governments had been divided into 12 centres for that purpose.

    Buhari said that the state government had approved the engagement of additional 2,000 degree holders into the programme, to complement the teaching manpower in senior secondary schools.

    “Those in that category will be supervised by the ministry of education,” he said, adding that the recruitment exercise would soon begin.

    NAN

  • Kaduna govt to pay outstanding salaries to teachers

    The Kaduna state government is to pay all outstanding salaries of the newly recruited primary school teachers in the state by end of September.

    Malam Ja’afaru Sani, Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology made this known on Friday in Kaduna at a training for primary teachers.

    Primary one teachers in the state are undergoing training on Jolly phonics teaching methodology, organised by Universal Learning Solutions (ULS), in collaboration with Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government had in March 2018 recruited 11,395 qualified teachers for its public primary schools.

    The recruitment was the first batch of 25,000 vacancies announced by the state government to fill the gaps created after the sack of about 22,000 alleged unqualified primary teachers in January.

    However, the new teachers posted to all primary schools across the 23 local government areas of the state were owed between three to four months salaries.

    He explained that the decision to clear the outstanding salaries was the outcome of a meeting with Gov. Nasir El-Rufai on the issue on Monday.

    “In addition to clearing all the backlog of salaries, the Governor has equally directed that the responsibility of payment of primary school teachers’ salaries and allowances be transferred to the state’s Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) from the respective local government councils,” Sani said.

    The commissioner also said that the governor had also declared free education for all female students in the state’s public secondary schools.

    He explained that the state government decided to remove all hindrance to girl-child education because of the strategic role of women in Nation building.

    He said that the ministry had sent a directive to that effect to all zonal offices and secondary schools for implementation.

    “Primary one to six were the ones enjoying free education in the state, but the governor, considering the importance of girl child education decided that all female students should be educated for free,” he said.

    Sani said that the training was one among several capacity building programmes organised to strengthen the capacity of teachers in the state.

    “This is because we cannot achieve the quality we desire in our public schools without improving the quality of our teachers.

    “We will continue to do our best in ensuring that teachers are well motivated and equipped with skills to deliver quality teaching in public schools so our children can have a better future,” Sani said.

    Earlier, Senior Project Manager in the NGO, Mr Richard Turnbull, said that the NGO is training 960 primary one teachers and 40 education officials in the Zaria, Kaduna and Zankwa centres.

    Read Also: Presidency tackles Saraki for disparaging Buhari

    Turnbull described Jolly phonics as a special literacy teaching method of using sounds, letters and fun to teach primary pupils how to read and write.

    He explained that the method was designed to equip teachers with the expertise and tools required to improve reading and writing skills in English of primary one pupils in public schools.

    “Jolly phonics is a fun and child-centred approach to teaching literacy through synthetic sounds, widely recognised as the most effective way to teach children to read and write in English.

    “We are delighted to be partnering with Kaduna SUBEB to deliver this intensive training to teachers and dedicated government officials of Kaduna State,” he said.

    He thanked the state government for the opportunity to work together for the children of the state toward a brighter future.

  • N100m Fraud: Cross River SUBEB lauds EFCC’s intervention

    The Cross River Universal Basic Education Board (CR-SUBEB) has commended operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for their prompt intervention in the attempt to defraud the board of N100 million.

    Dr Stephen Odey, Chairman of the board, gave the commendation on Thursday in Calabar while speaking with newsmen on the alleged attempt by suspected fraudsters to divert N100million Universal Basic Education (UBE) Matching Grant meant for the state.

    According to him, the suspects forged the signature of the SUBEB chairman and the secretary on a bank transfer form in an attempt to transfer the money to a different account before the bank alerted the EFCC amid suspicion.

    “This is a nefarious act perpetrated against the board and the State Government.

    “Fraudulent activities such as this are calculated attempts to cause problems for the board.

    “See the length people can go to commit crime; those people whom I do not know from anywhere, forged my signature and that of the board’s Secretary.

    Read Also: N229m money laundering: EFCC arraigns ex-minister, four others

    “If this was not uncovered by the EFCC, tomorrow people will carry stories that the money was withdrawn by the executive chairman.

    “I really commend the EFCC for their timely intervention and for swooping in to forestall the fraudulent attempt on the account, thereby vindicating the board,” he said.

    Odey said that on several occasions, EFCC had placed a lien on the board’s matching grant account as a result of frivolous petitions.

    The chairman said that one of the suspects had on interrogation admitted that he had never met or seen the SUBEB chairman nor the board’s Secretary.

    “To the best of my knowledge and being honest, I have never seen or known any of them in any way, and they both don’t know me in anyway either,” he said.

    Odey promised to remain transparent in all his dealings as the SUBEB chairman and warned the general public to stay away from fraudulent activities.

    The executive chairman in April apprehended a fraudster in the State with four forged award letters for execution of projects amounting to N135 million.

    NAN