From Abdul Salaudeen Ilorin
Kwara State government has concluded arrangements to renovate 898 public junior and senior schools with a view to create a conducive environment for learning and teaching.
The Project Coordinator of Kwara State Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment, AGILE, Mr Adeshina Salami disclosed this during the monitoring of the ongoing five-day training of 5,000 School-Based Management Committees, SBMCs, at the College of Education, Ilorin.
He explained that SBMC members are to oversee the renovations of the schools.
Emphasising government’s commitment to improve the quality of education, Salami pointed out that the training, under the 1.2 renovation sub-component of the project, focused on the roles and responsibilities of SBMCs and the development of Schools Improvement Plan, SIP, in a bid to ensure that all schools are made conducive for learning.
The coordinator appreciated Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for facilitating the project to Kwara, noting that, “this is a move targeted at fostering conducive and safe learning spaces for boys and girls, especially adolescent girls.”
He added that the project was facilitated to also increase enrollment and retention of adolescent girls so as to be able to successfully complete, at least, their secondary education.
“The Project Implementation Manual, PIM, clearly states that SBMCs of each school will handle the renovations. Right now, they are being trained on their duties, development of SIP needs assessment and project management, in order to build their capacity and enhance efficient service delivery.
“SBMCs are an essential link between schools and the communities they serve, and they consist of a range of community stakeholders and people involved with each school. We had earlier gone out for the validation of SBMC to ensure that the right people were chosen, as stated in the PIM,” he enthused.
He revealed that the training is holding across the three senatorial districts, capturing six SBMC members, each from 898 schools, consisting the chairman of SBMC, secretary (principal), female treasurer, a representative of teachers and two artisans who have knowledge on building and construction
Also speaking, the 1.2 Renovation Lead of Kwara AGILE, Aminat Shehu noted that the sub-component deals with the provision of Water, Sanitation and Health, WASH, facilities and classrooms renovation.
According to her, “We want SBMCs to take ownership of the project, that is why they are involved in the School Improvement Plan. They will be trained on it, so that they can make judicious use of the funds allocated to each of the schools.
“This training will equip SBMC members with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively monitor school renovations, ensuring quality, transparency and community ownership of the whole process,” she explained.
In his remarks, the consultant handling the renovation sub-component 1.2 of the project and Managing Partner, Alim and Associates, Engr Muhyideen Yusuf noted that the training was an avenue for SBMCs to raise their concerns and have a better understanding of their duties in ensuring a successful project implementation.
