The Kwara State Government has declared that it is now illegal to impose or collect the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) levy in any public primary school across the state.

To cushion the effect and provide running funds, the government has therefore sanctioned the provision of annual school grants for the schools. This grant is intended to replace the abolished PTA levy and cover the schools' operational costs.

The Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Professor Shehu Raheem Adaramaja, made this announcement on Thursday in Ilorin, the state capital.

Professor Adaramaja was speaking during the public opening of bids for the 2024 (third and fourth quarters) UBEC/SUBEB intervention projects.

"The Governor has approved the stoppage of the payment of PTA in all public primary schools in the state. From primary 1 to 6, no more payment of PTA in Kwara State," he stated, simultaneously confirming the immediate commencement of the disbursement of these new grants for at least 1,717 public schools.

Adaramaja further announced the approval of procurement of English and Maths textbooks by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, which he said, will be distributed free of charge to the pupils of primary 1 to 6 across the state.

Speaking on the bid opening, the Chairman said the intervention would cover critical projects, including the construction of a block of two classrooms with an office, construction of VIP toilets, remodeling and renovation of classrooms, drilling of solar powered borehole with tank stand, rehabilitation of digital literacy across the state, procurement of foundation literacy teaching and learning materials for primary one, fabrication and distribution of 2 seater pupils/students' furniture, and safe schools initiative in some selected local governments, among others.

Commending the government for investing in school infrastructure, human capital development, and welfare of teachers, Adaramaja disclosed that the Governor has equally approved the payment of 2025 counterpart funds for the UBEC/SUBEB intervention projects.

He then urged contractors, who will eventually get the jobs, to execute them in line with the specifications, warning that shoddy jobs will not be condoned.

Prof Adaramaja hailed the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Hajiya Aisha Garba and other key stakeholders for contributing to the success of the programme.

Responding on behalf of the bidders, Alhaji Maroof Ahmed, who is the Secretary for Indigenous Contractors Association, thanked the government for giving their members an opportunity to showcase their talents.

He pledged that their members will deliver quality services and will not let the government and the people of the state down.