Lokoja
Kogi state Governor Yahaya Bello remains committed to transforming the education sector in the state because he believes that education forms the bedrock of any sustainable development.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr Wemi Jone, made the remark while receiving members,Committee on Education, Kogi State House of Assembly in his office on Tuesday in Lokoja.
The Commissioner, who noted that government alone could not achieve the needed feat in the education sector called on relevant stakeholders to support the state government to enable it deliver quality and effective education for the people.
”We have to realise that the state government alone does not have the capacity to fund education sector,that is why we are trying to bring several stakeholders on board,” he said.
Jones expressed the commitment of the ministry toward generating quality and credible data, to enable the state solicit the support of the donor partners and relevant stakeholders for the delivery of quality education to the people in the state.
The commissioner assured that the ministry would enhance efforts in supervision, monitoring and inspection of schools to elicit the best from the teachers’ productivity and students learning environment.
He said the need for redouble effort became imperative to change the state’s current rating in external examinations which he noted was not acceptable.
”We will enforce the tool of discipline in our schools; we need to utilise the human resources on ground to improve education in the state and get our ratings back.”
He said though the ministry had put in lot of efforts into changing the narratives in the sector;coupled with that of his predecessor, “there are still lots to be done in education for effective performance.”
”We are also committed to standandisation in our schools and we will work assiduously to get it done. We will need the full cooperation support of the honourable members from time to time,” he said.
”The schools must operate under a conducive environment for our students to learn well,” he said.
The Chairman, House Committee on Education, Mr Olushola Kilani, had earlier told the commissioner the committee was in the ministry on familiarisation tour being part of its oversight function.
Kilani, who said the committee had the mandate to ensure quality delivery in education sector, requested for the report of the status update of the ministry to be forwarded to the committee through the clerk of the Assembly.
The chairman also called forthe improved security in the state higher institutions as well as proper checkmate on the proliferation of substandard private schools in the state.
He gave the assurance that the Assembly would support the ministry to improve the status of education in the state.
