Date: 2021-08-25

* Cambridge Univ. Press applauds Gov. AbdulRazaq's investment in school infrastructure, others.

Kwara state Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq's giant strides in the education sector on Tuesday enjoyed another encomium from an education partner – Cambridge University Press in Nigeria, attributing the victory to the government's steadfastness to change the ugly narratives in the sector.

The Country Manager for Cambridge University Press, Mr. Lawrence Aladesuyi said this at the opening ceremony of a 2-day seminar the firm organized for teachers of English and Mathematics in public secondary schools in conjunction with the state Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, held in Ilorin, the state Capital.

Not less than 1000 concerned teachers of junior and senior secondary schools, drawn from the three senatorial districts of kwara, are expected to be trained on modern approaches to teachings of selected subjects with a view to facilitating the students' assimilation and promoting the rate of academic success. He said the firm was satisfied with AbdulRazaq's renewed investments in education over time, a development he said informed their choice for Kwara as a state to partner with.

"We see Kwara as a state with a lot of interest in education. We follow events and we have been seeing what the governor has been doing, building schools, improving schools and payment of teachers salaries. So, we chose Kwara because we found people here very much interested in education and we found the governor very much interested in education. Education is not only for the governor, it is for all of us. We are partnering with the government as part of our corporate social responsibility.

"You need to expose teachers to current pedagogy in teaching. We need to expose them to how to handle the curriculum in the classroom. Classroom management is a major issue in every society. So, we are trying to train them, to educate them in order to make better use of educational materials for the betterment of the children," Aladesuyi explained, thanking the government for the support it rendered throughout the event.

Governor AbdulRazaq, while declaring the seminar open, charged the participants to be dynamic and innovative in a way that their respective students will have interest in whatever they teach them.

"As teachers, you need to be innovative. Make sure students love your subjects no matter how difficult the subjects are. That is how to know a good teacher. So, I am happy that the seminar will focus on topics that are difficult. Please listen attentively and be focused," AbdulRazaq said.

Represented by the State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development Hajia Sa'adatu Kawu, Governor AbdulRazaq said the seminar would broaden the knowledge of the teachers and improve academic performance of students in Kwara State.

"This seminar is intended to broaden the knowledge of the teachers and improve academic performance of our dear students in Kwara State. I am not surprised at the gesture of Cambridge University Press, over the years the firm has maintained its household name in maintaining the quality and standard of education in our state and in the country.

"This seminar has come at the right time when the present administration is focused at reshaping the standard of education in the state. It does not mean that we all know that this administration has done so much in the education sector. We all know that qualitative education is an unfinished business. We all need to make an impact.

"We are paying greater attention to the education sector. This government has intensified efforts at providing infrastructure and creating an enabling environment for teaching and learning in our public schools. Payment of the state counterpart fund to UBEC has enabled the state to access funds for school infrastructure. This has manifested in the recent launch of SUBEB projects and other educational equipment to boost educational standards in the state.

The Governor applauded Cambridge University Press for partnering with the state government for capacity building of public schools' teachers in the fields of Mathematics and English Language.

The Chairman Kwara State Teaching Service Commission, Alhaji Taoheed Bello and the Chairman Kwara State Parents Teachers Association, Alhaji Ibrahim Oniye charged the teachers to let the training reflect on their practices and extend the knowledge to fellow teachers who could make it to the training.

President, All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) Kwara State Chapter, Alhaji Toyin Abdullahi said the ANCOPPS is pleased with various interventions of the current administration in revamping the sector.

"We had serious dialogue with the State Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development and the Teaching Service Commission. I want to commend the state government for listening to ANCOPPS on how to move education forward in Kwara State," ANCOPPS President added.

Yakub Aliagan

Press Secretary

Ministry of Education and

Human Capital Development

August 24, 2021