Bagudu, stakeholders brainstorm on seeking plausible solutions to challenges of education
Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and critical stakeholders in the state's education sector on Thursday brainstormed on ways to find plausible solutions to some of the challenges .
The event was a meeting/ interaction between the Governor and the stakeholders to find solutions to problems associated with the payment of teachers' salaries, promotion and other related educational issues under Local Government Education Authority, LGEA.
Bagudu however noted the invaluable sacrifices of the chairmen of the LGEAs , saying," these are accomplished people in their own rights.
"But, they agreed to sacrifice and they are donating their own time and expertise, to help the people of the State."
The governor also said that SUBEB in the state had fared well and said that although resources were limited, there must be value for money.
This, Bagudu said, cannot be achieved without honesty and transparency, stating that unlike in Kebbi, there were about six states that could not pay teachers salaries.
He said that the exercise was not to witchhunt anybody ,but to know the challenges and proffer the required solutions.
He identified lack of commitment and the requisite qualifications as some of the problems facing the sector.
Bagudu underscored the need to mobilize and plough in more resources into the education sector.
On the issue of teachers salary, the governor made it clear that he would only give approval for payment after he has been presented with lists of bonafide teachers in service signed by the Education Secretaries of respective Local Government Education Authority LGEA of the twenty-one local government areas of the state and also signed by the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB.
Bagudu requested Chairmen of LGEAs headed by Professors, to scrutinize figures and authenticate lists of teachers to be presented when the meeting reconvenes in the next ten days upon which payment of salary would be based.
The State Coordinator of BESDA, Prof. Abubakar Abdullahi Bagudo, said that the payment of September salaries hinged on the logical conclusion of the exercise.
Bagudo also stressed the need to change the narrative of basic education in the state due to the colossal support and commitment of stakeholders .
Prof. Suleiman Khalid, SUBEB Chairman said that LGEAS in the state were now functioning better due to the priority attention the Governor was giving the sector.
He stressed the need for communities to partake actively in managing schools across the state.
Earlier, Education Secretaries of all the twenty-one local government education authorities, LGEAs, briefed the governor on education matters in their respective areas while directors of Finance of each LGEA announced the total amount of money received for the payment of teachers’ salaries for the month of August, as requested by the governor.
The Chairmen of the LGEAs also made inputs and suggestions on how to improve teachers welfare and improve the education sector in the state.
The Secretary to the State Government, SSG Babale Umar Yauri, Acting Head of Service, Alhaji Safiyanu Garba Bena, Acting Auditor General of the State Faruq Bello Rufa and Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Local Government, Alhaji Sani Umar Yeldu attended the meeting.