Kwara govt to renovate 898 public junior, senior secondary schools

The Kwara State Government has concluded arrangements to renovate a total of 898 public junior and senior secondary schools across the state with a view to creating a conducive environment for learning and teaching.

Speaking during the monitoring of the ongoing state-wide five-day training of over 5,000 School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) at the College of Education, Ilorin, the Project Coordinator of the Kwara State Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project, Mr Adeshina Salami, said the SBMC members are to oversee the renovations.

Mr Salami said the government is committed to improving the quality of education, adding that the training, under the “1.2 Renovation sub-component” of the project, focuses on the roles and responsibilities of the SBMCs and the development of School Improvement Plans (SIPs) in a bid to ensure that all schools are made conducive for learning.

The coordinator also appreciated Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for facilitating the project in Kwara State, saying 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 also facilitated to increase the enrolment and retention of adolescent girls to enable them to 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, the development of School Improvement Plan (SIP), needs assessment and project management, in order to build their capacity and enhance efficient service delivery.

“The SBMCs are an essential link between schools and the communities they serve and they are made up of a range of community stakeholders and people involved with each school. We had earlier gone out for the validation of the SBMC to ensure the right people were chosen, as stated in the PIM,” he said.

He also said that the SBMC training is being held concurrently across the three senatorial districts of the state, involving six SBMC members from each of the 898 schools, consisting of the Chairman SBMC, Secretary (Principal), female treasurer, a representative of teachers, and two artisans with knowledge of building and construction.

Also speaking, the 1.2 Renovation Lead of Kwara AGILE, Aminat Shehu, said the sub-component deals with the provision of Water, Sanitation and Health (WASH) facilities and classroom renovation.

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According to her, “We want the SBMCs to take ownership of the project, that is why they are involved in the School Improvement Plan (SIP). They will be trained on it so 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, who also doubles as the Managing Partner of Alim and Associates, Engineer Muhyideen Alimi Yusuf, noted that “this training is an avenue for the SBMCs to raise their concerns and to have a better understanding of their duties in ensuring a successful project implementation”.

Speaking on behalf of other participants, a beneficiary appreciated the governor for the strides in the education sector, pledging to fulfil their responsibilities to ensure that every school receives maximum benefits from the community-based AGILE project.

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