•State's use of technology for teaching impressive: UBEC Chief

•Govt pledges greater support, investment in edu sector

Kwara State Government again earned national applause for running the FG-UBEC sponsored Model Smart School effectively and technology driven within the shortest period of its establishment in the state.

Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Dr. Hamid Boboyyi, who inspected the facility on Friday, said he was impressed at what he saw, especially how technology is being fully deployed in the state to impart knowledge on school pupils.

UBEC's officials were on a 2-day working visit to the state. On their arrival on Friday, they inspected the Model Smart School in Adeta and other UBEC - funded schools in the state, and later paid homage to deputy Governor Kayode Alabi, who received them on behalf of the Governor.

They were also received by the Chairman, Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board, Prof Sheu Raheem Adaramaja and the representative of the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education and Chairman Teaching Service Commission, Bello Tahoeed Abubakar, among other principal officers of the Board.

"So far, I am very much impressed. I have seen how they have deployed technology in the school in terms of the smart box, 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 told reporters in Ilorin after inspecting the model school.

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 of pupils in basic classes.

He 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 "rare 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 it's 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".

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 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. But, Kwara impresses me more in terms of the control of classrooms, the dynamics that take place and 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 was to give an average Nigerian child improved access to digital learning in line with the international best practices, calling on all state governments to replicate the model school standard in their own 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.

Deputy Governor, Kayode Alabi, in his remarks, said the government will continue to support UBEC in its efforts to build a solid foundation for school children, who he noted deserves a better future.

"The foundation really matters, and with Smart Model School, it makes our children become very smarter. If the foundation is good, the sky is just the beginning for the children," Alabi said, while receiving the team at Government House Ilorin.

"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".

Chairman Kwara SUBEB, Prof Sheu Raheem Adaramaja, for his part, commended the UBEC for the initiative and for the visit that he called a product of mutual trust between 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 owned schools and increased the patronage, asking the Executive Secretary to look into some of the challenges the school is facing.

Aminat Biola Atere
Press Secretary,
Kwara SUBEB Governor