By Omoruyi Patricia Osayomore
Governor Godwin Obaseki on Thursday, April 27, 2023, launched the Edo Learning Agenda, aimed at improving teaching and learning outcomes for children in the State. Speaking at the Sir Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub in Benin City during the second day of the Edo State Education Week, he emphasised that learning outcomes for students are just as important as school attendance and physical infrastructure. He also urged parents and teachers to strive towards making every child a reading champion by the age of ten, emphasising the need for hard work and commitment rather than automatic promotions.
Governor Obaseki who was flanked by the Consul General of India, Chandramouli Kern, and Dr Joan Oviawe, the Commissioner for Education, highlighted the rampant human trafficking and irregular migration in Edo State when he came into office, which prompted action to be taken. He explained that difficult economic and social circumstances in some rural communities, coupled with a significant learning deficit among young people, resulted in a situation where many Edo boys and girls were desperate to find a future elsewhere, leading to their exploitation. Working with diaspora immigration officers, the State was able to rescue about 3000 trafficked children and focus on education reforms to provide a permanent solution.
“Human trafficking and irregular migration in our State were at their peak from 2016 to 2017, which called for action. One factor was the difficult economic and social circumstances of parents in some rural communities. The breakdown of the education system also resulted in a significant learning deficit among young people, which made them unemployable and desperate to find a future elsewhere. Numerous Edo boys and girls crossed the desert to Europe.
The globally acclaimed EdoBEST programme was launched to provide standard teaching and learning outcomes for basic schools, while EdoBEST 2.0 was launched to reform senior secondary, technical, vocational and tertiary education. Mr Obaseki commended the Commissioner and the Executive Chairman of Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (Edo SUBEB), Ozavize Salamia for their dedication to reforming education in Edo State over the course of his administration.
He acknowledged the progress made in the State education sector and the recognition of the EdoBEST programme by local and international stakeholders and partners, which has spurred his administration to be more committed to the cause of quality and functional education. He assured that the programme will be sustained, as the State has put in place institutions to drive the process consistently.
The Director of Basic Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Olatunji Davis, representing the Minister for Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, expressed delight at the education reforms in Edo State and pledged the Federal Government’s commitment to guaranteeing access to quality education for the Nigerian child. He commended the EdoBEST programme and its innovations such as the EdoBEST @ Home Lessons and Nigeria Learning Passport, which provide access to quality education.
Dr Joan Osa Oviawe also appreciated the contributions of partners such as the World Bank, UNICEF, GIZ, Sterling Bank, and others to the education reforms in Edo State.
The event featured an interactive session between Governor Obaseki and pupils, country experience from Sierra Leone presented by the Deputy Chief Education Officer, Ms Adama Jean Momoh, a technical panel discussing the importance of measuring learning outcomes, indigenous dance performances and art exhibitions by students, and speech presentations by education stakeholders, most notably Mr Martin De Simone of the World Bank. Dr Oviawe guided that the Learning Agenda would be divided into sections for subsequent attention through the remaining part of the year, emphasizing the importance of the School O’Clock campaign to ensure that all students are in school during school hours.
The event was well attended by local and international education stakeholders who were very keen to learn about the success of Edo State in reforming education while sharing their own experiences and insight.
