From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The Edo State Government announced yesterday that it has engaged 3000 teachers to improve learning in primary schools while plan is on to similarly engage 1000 teachers for secondary schools in the state.
The state Commissioner for Education, Dr. Joan Oviawe, disclosed this at a press conference in Benin, where she unfolded Government new reforms in the education sector.
She said to build on the gains from the EdoBest education reforms, the state government has extended the reform programme to the post primary cadre, adding that the “Edo Best 2.0 Approach” is designed to improve on quality of academics in the post primary cadre, create frameworks to coordinate co-curricular activities and improve on school administration.
The Commissioner stated that the government is aware of the falling education standard in the state as a result of examination malpractice and therefore is working hard to provide both man power and infrastructure needed in the state school system.
“The quality of education students receive in school has come under scrutiny recently in Edo State due to the high rate of malpractice and misconduct reported during major examination exercise in the state , as well as a lack of personnel (teachers) to effectively deliver training across 307 schools dispersed across the state’s 18 local government areas.
“Since 2008, the state has not employed any teacher across the state, but we are happy to say that we have engaged 3000 teachers for the primary and working to engage 1000 teachers for the post primary.
“In order to build on the achievements already seen in the Basic Education Sector Transformation ( Edo BEST ) Programme , the State Government through the Ministry of Education has been compelled to take decisive action under the EdoBEST 2.0 reform agenda in order to address concerns with secondary education .
The EdoBEST 2.0 secondary school reform is intended to have an impact on students’ learning, school administration in three key areas:
“Academic Improvement
To ensure that students are prepared to meet performance expectations in a constantly changing workplace and remain relevant.”We have reimagined academic activities to rework the following and to ensures that 60 % of the activities are for teaching , learning , and instructional time ; 24 % are for co – curricular activities ; and 16 % are for brain stimulating activities for students.
“To make sure students are well – prepared for the new school year, parents and teachers would be provided with a Back – to – School list.
Model Digital Learning across the state, commencing with 40 pilot schools in partnership with UNICEF”.
Oviawe listed measures being carried out by the Ministry of Education to enhance school administration, management and monitoring generally to include establishment of school Management Board to improve secondary education, establish part of the Systems Strengthening and School Governance.
She also classified schools into six areas of Academic Specialization: Engineering & Technology, Health & Medical Sciences, Art ( performing & creative ), Entrepreneurship, Sports, Social Sciences and Applied Humanities.
