By Kayode Adeoti, Ilorin
Condition of schools before Gov AA’s emergence
For years, students in Kolofo, Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State, endured a woefully inadequate learning environment, attending classes under a makeshift grass-thatched tent, eerily similar to a traditional ‘Shuka’ (hut).
Learning condition in this community was far from ideal, with the few pupils who against all odds, determined to learn often fled to the nearby home of a kindly villager, one Abdulhakeem Sanni, who’s fondly called ‘Mallim’, to escape being drenched whenever rain fell.
Cramped and dilapidated classrooms, inadequate furniture, and insufficient basic amenities like toilets, fence, computer and water facilities were the norm. The ugly development did not only created an unconducive learning environment but also posed health risks to students and teachers alike.
This was the situation in Kolofo and several other communities particularly in the remotes part of the three senatorial districts of the state until the government of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq gained power in 2019.
Turning eyesores into cynosure
An independent tour of schools across the three senatorial districts of Kwara State revealed a dramatic transformation in the State basic education. This is evident in how the government of AA as fondly called in the political cycles demolished old classroom structures, reconstructed, and rebuilt new ones.
Worthy of note is the fact that the once shuka Kolofo LGEA school has been replaced with modern buildings, having functioning toilets and modern furnitures to ensure teachers and pupil’s comfort.
The Head Mistress of Kolofo Primary school, Mrs Yusuf Serifat could not hold back her joy during an interview session with her but exclaimed, saying “Governor Abdulrahman has made us laugh”.
She continued reflecting on the past situation “For several years, we had our school under this bamboo made tent, when rains fell, we took shelter in Malim’s house. Many of our children got discouraged and stopped coming, we’ll start going to their houses, pleading with the parents to release them again. School enrollment was poor, but today, parents bring up their child for enrollment without being lured. We have modern structures with toilets and equipments”.
A similar transformation took place at Otte-Oja LGEA, where Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq’s investments in education have yielded impressive results. The once-vulnerable school can now boasts of a secure perimeter fence and brand-new buildings to decongest the already increasing population.
The Zonal Head Mistress of the school, Mope Rauf Ishola revealed that before the governor’s intervention, the school has no fence and the school premises is more of a road path for everyone in the community.
According to her, “People had created a shortcut through the school premises, making it look like a public path. Strangers would drive through, disrupting our classes, and most significantly, our students could no longer run away during school hours without us noticing”
“Before now, many of our children seat on bear floor, no provision for teachers chair or table….the story has changed today, no more invasion, we have renovated classrooms, water system and ICT centre. We’ve moved out of chalkboard to computer screens.
Ikhwanu Junior Secondary School in Adabata has also undergone significant transformations thanks to the current governor’s efforts. The school head, Sherifat Abdulsalam, highlighted the remarkable changes, stating that the old building was demolished and replaced with a modern structure, complete with a fence and gate
The new building has made a substantial impact, addressing previous issues such as overcrowding and combined classes. Students now have separate classes, and the school boasts modern amenities, including ceilings, roofs, benches, furniture, and toilets for both students and teachers.
“In the past, people would walk their cattle through the school compound, letting them defecate freely. If we tried to stop them, they wouldn’t listen. Students would often run away from school, but now we have night and day guards, and the compound is fully fenced and secured. However, we still need better drainage, as the dust can be overwhelming.”
Alhaja Mustapha Basirat, Principal of Nawairudeen Grammar School, in Offa, expressed her appreciation for the new school building provided by the government. She highlighted the positive impact of the new facility on the students’ learning environment, stating that the school needs a laboratory for Home Economics classes at the Junior Secondary School (JSS) level.
She said, with a total of approximately 1,200 students (600 in JSS and 600 in SS), the school lacks a library, which is essential for supporting academic research and learning.
Shao Community Primary LGEA School has also benefited from the provision of running water, making a significant impact on the students’ health, hygiene, and overall learning experience.
Enhancing e-learning
The Kwara State Government, through the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), has implemented various e-learning initiatives to improve the quality of basic education, provide students with access to digital educational resources, including online textbooks, videos, and interactive lessons.
The board has also established digital classrooms in selected schools, equipped with computers, internet connections, and other digital tools to support teaching and learning.
The state government has distributed tablets to teachers, preloaded with digital educational resources and apps to support learning.
St. Cyprian 1 LGEA at Offa, Offa Local Government Area, was equipped with nothing less than 24 computers. The computer teacher, Soleye Mayowa, who spoke passionately with this appreciated government of the day for the modern initiative saying it’s a way of equipping the students with the right knowledge on the usage of the computer.
LGEA Primary School in Maya, Ilorin East, has benefited from the governor’s provision of running water, powered by solar energy, which serves both the school and the community. This initiative has been praised by Mallam Sadudeen Akanji Ayelade and Hajia Muktar Minirat, the Headmaster.
Previously, the water brought by pupils was not safe for consumption, and the school had to treat it before it could be drunk. The new solar-powered water system has likely improved the health and well-being of the students and community members.
Discovered at the Pilot School Malete is a Functional ICT facilities, renovation of all 10 classrooms, provision of 150 benches. A growing student population, with 457 pupils currently enrolled and new enrollments happening daily.
Comrade Otoola Samuel, the Headmaster of Pilot School Malete could not hold his joy but exclaimed saying “thanks to our governor”.
Mustapha Moshood Asude, the Vice Principal of Academics at Government Day Junior Secondary School, Amule, has shared a remarkable transformation story with us during the visit.
According to him: “before the renovation, the school was in a state of disrepair, with classes held downstairs, and enrollment was low, after renovation, the school has experienced a significant surge in enrollment, with the number of students doubling.
“The school now boasts impressive facilities, including computer center, well-furnished classrooms.
With a current enrollment of 1,400 students, the school has become a hub of academic excellence, thanks to the renovation efforts.
SUBEB Boss, Prof Adaramaja speaks on teacher’s salary, promotions so far….
The Chairman of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in Kwara State, Professor Shehu Adaramaja Raheem in his words appreciated his principal for giving him such an opportunity to serve.
Adaramaja, while speaking with this medium, disclosed that he met dilapidated schools, teachers receiving salary on percentage, the process he described as ‘Geri gedi’, in local tongue and non functioning promotion scheme that could have motivated teachers to work.
According to him, he assumed office with a mandate from Governor to fix the loopholes in the basic education system.
“I had a mandate to fix basic education problems, reason I initiated programmes. We met dilapidated schools, pupils learning under trees, teachers were receiving Geri gedi, their morals down and parents were withdrawing their children to private schools, no motivation.
Promotion was done purely on influence and the last we met was done in 2016. The UBEC loan of N450 million which this government met on ground was settled. 38 schools remolded, 89 boreholes provided and no political ward in the 193 ward of the state has not been touched”. Professor said.
According to him, the government has settled backlog salary areas of 3billion of teachers and promotion exercise were carried out at different times to ensure that the teachers were motivated to work with passion.
The SUBEB Boss further revealed that pupils from Kwara State schools have been performing excellently well in the local and international debate competitions saying they came 1st in 2021 and second in the one they had in Dubai.
“Our pupils represented Nigeria in Singapore in which 79 countries participated and we’re preparing again to debate in China by July and we pray we come back with nothing but first”. He said.
