Prof. Femi Akinwumi, Chairman, Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), on Tuesday says the government is planning to strengthen infrastructure in schools to boost teaching and learning.
Akinwumi disclosed this in Ado-Ekiti while briefing newsmen on the level of preparedness for reopening of schools for the 2021/2022 academic session in the state.
He said the government would improve teachers’ capacity and ensure effective monitoring to enhance quality service delivery.
Akinwumi explained that the SUBEB was presently undertaking departmental review of its activities in the last one year, to determine the impact of the 12 training programmes held for teachers and other staff.
Akinwumi disclosed that post-training assessment in public primary and junior secondary schools across the 16 local government areas would be held immediately after resumption for the 2021/22 session.
He recalled that the board, in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), had trained and retrained over 14,000 teachers, school administrators and other officers.
“This is under an aggressive capacity building programme that had been variously
described as the most robust training programme in the history of the state.
“In the public primary and secondary schools, 12,417 teachers and 1,133 Head teachers as well as 202 Quality Assurance and School Support Officers and 28 members of the SUBEB management were trained.
“They received training on a wide range of topics including Pedagogy, school safety, Digital Literacy, Jolly Phonics and School Based Model Training.
“Other aspects of training are; Leadership and Strategic Management in the COVID-19 Era, Quality Assurance Concept, School Based Model, Strengthening Mathematics and Science Education as well as English proficiency training.’’
He explained that the programmes were conducted in partnership with reputable educational institutions, including Ekiti State University, Obafemi Awolowo University, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti.
Others included Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti and the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration.
He disclosed that quality assurance officers were provided Android devices to monitor and assess schools in the state.
“This is for the authentication of the longitudinal and latitudinal coordinate of
schools monitored and for filing their daily report to the board and UBEC,” he said.
Akinwumu solicited the support of all stakeholders to improve the education sector in the state and assured that the board would continue to engage critical stakeholders to ensure attainment of set objectives.