The wife of the Kwara State Governor, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed, has called for qualitative education, saying it is the bedrock of development.

The governor's wife, who also stressed the need for sound basic learning, noted that it was the foundation of other levels of education.

She spoke during the finals of the Great Kwara Spelling Bee competition among secondary schools on Thursday in Ilorin.

In the competition, Obaitan Harold of Union Baptist Grammar School, Ilorin came first, while Owolabi Stephen of Union Baptist Grammar School, Ilorin and  Salaudeen Sulyman of Federal Government College, Ilorin, came second and third respectively.

Initiator/coordinator of the competition, Mrs. Diola Adimula, noted that the performance of the pupils was an indication of an improved quality of education in the state.

Adimula, who is also the Chairperson, Women and Child Watch Initiative, said she delved into the programme to help improve the dwindling usage of English Language among pupils in the state.

She said, "We say that the English Language usage was dropping and we felt that it needs to be improved.

"I can say of necessity that we have been able to achieve that objective in the sense that from the record of the competition, we discovered that the usage of English Language in secondary schools

is getting better and principals are confirming it."

Adimula called on the state government to employ more teachers, particularly in rural areas to shore up the quality of teaching in such places.

"It is really necessary nationwide to employ more English Language teachers, particularly in Kwara State with emphasis in Kwara North Senatorial District.

She added, "We have been to some schools in the senatorial district during the competition, and we were told that they do not even have English Language teacher in some schools.  They will post some teachers there, the teachers would not stay in the village.

"My advice is that the government can give these teachers some incentives to make them stay in the rural communities and train the students. Generally more qualified English teachers should be employed."