Biodun Esan, Ilorin Dr. Hamid Boboyyi, Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), has commended the Kwara gov...
Biodun Esan, Ilorin
Dr. Hamid Boboyyi, Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), has commended the Kwara government for the way the FG-UBEC-sponsored Model Smart School was being run in the state.
Boboyyi gave the commendation in Ilorin in an interview with journalists after inspecting the facility.
He was impressed at what he saw, especially how technology is being fully deployed in the state to impart knowledge to school pupils.
UBEC's officials were on a two-day working visit to the state to inspect the Model Smart School in Adeta and other UBEC-funded schools in the state.
They later paid homage to Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi, who received them on behalf of the Governor.
They were received by the Chairman of Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board, Prof Sheu Raheem Adaramaja and the representative of
the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Chairman of.the Teaching Service Commission, Bello Tahoeed Abubakar, and other.principal officers of the Board also received them.
"So far, I am very much impressed. I have seen how they have deployed technology in the school in terms of smart boxes, tablets, and other.digital items.
“I must congratulate the Kwara state government, SUBEB, and the teachers, who are class managers, for their wonderful jobs," Boboyyi said.
Kwara and Kano are the first two states to benefit from the pilot scheme of the UBEC's Smart School, with each of the states expected to.prioritize the use of ICT for teaching pupils in basic classes.
The executive secretary lauded the state government's commitment to educational growth including the proper handling of the Model Smart.School, and thanked Prof Adaramaja-led SUBEB for his support in.getting many things done.
"We have come to see what is going on in the school. If you remember, the school commenced a pilot system in the state, where it admitted the pupils for some selected classes.
“So, we have come to find out and seek to address the challenges it may be having since its inception, especially the reported delay in supplying and installing some basic facilities, so that everything can be put in place before the school fully takes off come September 2023," he said.
Boboyyi said he was confident about the choice and better delivery of Kwara for the pilot system, acknowledging the government's huge investments in basic schools and the kind of pedigree the state has in the education sector in the whole of North Central.
"I appreciate the government of Kwara state and the SUBEB in the sense that I have been to Kano and I saw what is in place they are trying in terms of enthusiasm and the learning system and other facilities.
“Kwara impresses me more in terms of the control of classrooms, the dynamics that take place, and the application of technology among others. I knew Kwara to be a paragon, and I am very serious about this," Boboyyi added.
He said the idea of establishing the IT-based smart school would give an average Nigerian child improved access to digital learning in line.with international best practices.
Boboyyi, therefore called on all state governments to replicate the model school standard in their education system.
Speaking on the delay in supplying and installing other facilities to the school like solar and CCTV equipment, the Executive Secretary promised to summon the affected contractors to do the needful or risk their contracts being revoked.
In his remarks, Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi said the government will continue to support UBEC in its efforts to build a solid foundation for school children, who, he noted, deserve a better future.
"The foundation matters, and with Smart Model School, it makes our children very smarter.
“If the foundation is good, the sky is just the beginning for the children," Alabi said.
"We appreciate your coming and we assure you of our support, and to continue to work with you because we know you are building the future of our children. We need to give them proper education and good exposure," Alabi said.
SUBEB Chairman, Prof Adaramaja, in his address, commended the UBEC for the initiative and for the visit that he called a product of mutual.trust between the AbdulRazaq administration and the regulatory body.
He said the establishment of Model Smart School in the state has further deepened public confidence in the workings of government schools and increased patronage.
The chairman appealed to the Executive Secretary to look into some of the challenges the school is facing.
END
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