KwaraLEARN increases pupil enrollment by 60,000 in two years

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s commitment to transforming education through the KwaraLEARN initiative is yielding significant results. In just two years, the tech-driven programme has dramatically improved learning outcomes and increased student enrollment from 120,000 to 180,000, according to Mrs. Laide Abel, Managing Director of KwaraLEARN.

KwaraLEARN, which stands for Kwara State Leading Education Achievement and Reform Now, is a bold initiative aimed at enhancing education in the state by leveraging modern technology.

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The programme has focused on empowering teachers and supporting learning in basic classes, leading to a 50% improvement in literacy and numeracy skills among pupils.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ retreat marking the second anniversary of KwaraLEARN, Abel highlighted the programme’s success in transforming education across the state. “The number of our school children who could not read has been reduced by over 50%, and the number of children who could not solve simple numeracy sums has also dropped by over 50%,” Abel told reporters in Ilorin.

The retreat, which featured presentations from various departments, provided an opportunity to analyse the programme’s impact on the ground and in tech-based situation rooms across Kwara State. The event was attended by key government officials, including the Chairman of the House Committee on Education, Muhammed Baba Salahu, and the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Sa’adatu Moddibo Kawu.

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One of the most significant outcomes of the KwaraLEARN initiative has been the surge in school enrollment. “Enrollment has increased to over 180,000 children from primary 1 to 6 in public primary schools across the state, up from 120,000 when the programme started,” Abel noted. This remarkable growth highlights the programme’s acceptability and its positive impact on education in Kwara State.

In addition to boosting enrollment, KwaraLEARN has also successfully reduced absenteeism by 50%. Abel attributed this success to the real-time monitoring of both students and teachers through technology-driven situation rooms.

The KwaraLEARN initiative has garnered praise from various quarters, with stakeholders lauding Governor AbdulRazaq’s visionary approach to education reform. Muhammed Baba Salahu, Chairman of the House Committee on Education, described the project as a promising shift from the past, acknowledging the governor’s strategic investments in education.

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Commissioner Sa’adatu Moddibo Kawu expressed satisfaction with the programme’s impact, stating that the improved learning outcomes are evident in recent examinations. She also commended the reduction in classroom absenteeism, noting that the programme has been extremely effective in enhancing educational standards.

Aliyu Kora Sabi, Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development, and Professor Sheu Raheem Adaramaja, Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), also praised the governor for creating an enabling environment for KwaraLEARN to thrive. Adaramaja highlighted the successes recorded in teacher attendance, content delivery, and the use of technology in driving education in the state.

As KwaraLEARN moves forward, the recent stakeholders’ retreat provided an opportunity to identify areas for further improvement, ensuring that the programme continues to deliver even greater benefits to the people of Kwara State.