The Kogi State Government on Thursday assured the Federal Education Quality Assurance Service of effective partnership in ensuring the delivery of quality education to the people of the state.
The State's Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, gave the assurance when a team from the Federal Education Quality Assurance Service paid a courtesy visit to him in his office in Lokoja.
The Commissioner thanked the team for the visit and expressed his excitement over the report of their evaluation of schools in the state, saying, ''it is quite commendable and encouraging''.
Jones emphasised the commitment of His Excellency, Gov. Yahaya Bello to revamping education, saying the governor had made education sector his number one priority in the state.
He noted that the governor has promised to allocate 20 per cent of the state's total annual budget to the education sector from now till the end of his tenure.
He said the ministry had used the COVID-19 lockdown period to put a lot of things in place, which according to him were already getting the approval of the governor now that the COVID-19 lockdown was over.
According to him, among is the Education Law as the state does not have education law in operation hitherto.
''But as I speak to you, the bill had been passed by the State House of Assembly waiting for the accent of His Excellency.
''In addition, the governor had recently inaugurated a committee on Education For All Project (EDUFAP), meant to cater for the 285 public secondary schools in the state in terms of infrastructures, renovations, equipping laboratories and libraries, manpower in schools among others'', Jones said.
He noted that the government was also working hard to address the issue of proliferation of schools in the state, saying there were lots of unregistered and substandard schools in the state.
He added that the governor had also given the approval to put together a robust incentive in terms of welfare package that would boost the morale of teachers in the state.
The Commissioner promised that all the observations and recommendations made by the team in their evaluation of schools in the state would be strictly addressed.
He assured that the ministry was looking forward to a robust and effective collaboration with the federal education quality assurance service to enhance the delivery of quality education to the people of Kogi.
Earlier, the state Coordinating Evaluator, Federal Education Qualify Assurance Service, Mrs Bukola Jamgbadi, congratulated the Commissioner on his well-deserved appointment and assured him of synergy of roles and responsibility at different levels for comprehensive monitoring and evaluation.
She noted that the Quality Assurance focused on ensuring that channels of communication and feedback mechanism were opened, effective and relevant in order to ensure uniform standards, ownership and sustainability.
She enumerated some of their observations during the external evaluation conducted on public and private schools in the state.
She noted that most teachers had good knowledge and understanding of their subject matter which motivated and inspired learners to make appreciable progress.
She added that most schools visited, staff and learners were involved in decision making as the authorities delegate duties to them through committees and prefectural system to prepare learners for future leadership roles. '
"Supervision and monitoring of lessons by the Principals and Supervisors to ensure class attendance and work coverage were observed in most schools.
''There were various supportive PTA in most schools, and most teachers have well-drawn lessons from National Curriculum to facilitate learning, among others'', Jamgbadi said.
She, however, enjoined the ministry especially the Quality Assurance department to carry them along in their programmes and activities.
She also solicited for the support of the Commissioner for the provision of operational vehicle anytime they were going for External Evaluation of schools while expressing their desire to contribute their token to the development of education in the state.
On ground to receive the team were the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Pastor Emmanuel Idenyi, and other management staff of the ministry.
Compiled By Ademu Seidu,
PRO KOGI MOEST
