8Executive Chairman of Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (Edo SUBEB), Ozavize Salami, has said reforms in the state’s basic education sector, under Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration, are improving learning outcomes and preparing children for global competitiveness.

Speaking to journalists in Benin City, the Edo SUBEB chair said the state government has prioritised investment in the education sector, with a focus on basic education, to accelerate foundational literacy, numeracy and adequately equip every child in the state for the future.

She said: “When this administration came in 2017, we noticed that the education sector was in need of urgent revamp. In a nutshell, we noticed that children were significantly underperforming academically. Teachers needed more encouragement and support with modern tools and techniques. Schools were not properly managed; there was no community ownership.

The state government did not have required data needed to make critical decisions, policies and support interventions.

“The state government then introduced the Edo BEST programme, with a focus on using the latest technology and pedagogies to ensure improved learning outcomes. The state has trained over 16,000 teachers from 2017 till date, and has inducted all primary and junior secondary schools in the state into the EdoBEST programme. To this end, the state operates three categories of programmes; Primary, Progressive and Junior Secondary School (JSS). The progressive model captures schools in extremely hard-to-reach areas and riverine communities.

“In addition, 3,000 EdoSTAR fellows were recruited, with a special focus on hard-to-reach communities, to deepen learning outcomes in rural areas. This has also helped to improve ownership in the schools’ host communities.”

Salami further noted that the state government’s ultimate goal is to domesticate EdoBEST. She also said that the state aims to consistently achieve, at the minimum, 95 per cent attendance of teachers, head teachers and pupils/students in all schools.

She added: “While I know we are on the right path to achieving this, overall success for us will not just be the implementation of an education transformation throughout the entire educational system, from basic education to senior school, technical colleges and tertiary institutions, but the turnover from implementation and provision of highly-skilled children that can compete in the global workforce.”