By Omoruyi Patricia Osayomore
In a bid to build on the achievements of the Edo State Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBEST) 2.0 programme, the Ministry of Education has held a press briefing in Benin City to address issues and concerns on senior secondary education in the State.
The Commissioner for Education, Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe, revealed that the Ministry was prepared for the new school year starting September, 2022, after several consultations and interactions with the various stakeholders across the 18 local government areas in the State.
Dr. Oviawe emphasised the collaborative efforts of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), the Post-Primary Education Board (PPEB) and the Board for Technical, Vocational Education Training (BTVET) in developing the framework and processes for the implementation of the various interventions geared towards making schools centres of academic excellence in the State.
Some concrete plans highlighted by the Commissioner include the harmonised academic calendar, a uniform time-table for all schools as well as a new scheme of work that compliments the Nigerian National Curriculum. She added that the time-table is structured to engage learners every minute they are in school across the three domains of learning (Cognitive, Affective and Psychomotor).
Other plans include a comprehensive back-to-school list which is structured to enable parents and guardians provide the requisite tools for learning to their wards, Learning Standards and targets for Literacy and Numeracy are also being developed to enable the Ministry achieve appreciable gains in learning outcomes.
The Commissioner said there is a jointly designed uniform school organogram that details minimum standards and structure for the administration of schools to address the concerns for school leadership, adding that School Management Boards (SMBs) are being setup to further strengthen governance at the school level where the Principals will be Secretaries of the SMBs while representatives of teachers and students will also sit on the Board.
She expressed appreciation f6or the inestimable support of some retired principals who assisted in the recruitment of 1000 candidates for the Edo Supporting Teachers to Achieve Results (EdoSTAR) Teaching Fellows for Senior Secondary Schools, who will be posted across schools in the first phase with planned orientation sessions for them ahead of school resumption in September.
While acknowledging the untiring support of Governor Godwin Obaseki towards re-enacting education in the State, Dr. Oviawe stated that the Ministry’s next priority is the School leadership, considering the fact that “No organisation can grow above the quality of its leadership.”
As a strategy towards sustainable effective school leadership, interactive evaluation sessions have been designed for all principals of Senior Secondary Schools from the three Senatorial Districts in conjunction with ANCOPSS and ASUSS at the Ministry of Education office beginning from Wednesday, August 10 through Friday, August 12, 2022.
The Commissioner reiterated the Ministry’s resolve to follow up the interactive sessions with extensive capacity building that will position principals to be performance-driven school managers.
Dr. Oviawe pledged the Ministry’s continuous engagements with stakeholders especially to share milestones, progress and lessons learnt, adding that the Ministry, PPEB and BTVET are determined that public secondary and technical schools must provide quality and relevant education, a conducive learning environment, better amenities and infrastructure managed with the highest standards.
