As part of concerted efforts to ensure qualitative education system in the state, the Federal Government through the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the Rivers State Government have procured vehicles, motorcycles, ICT equipment to boast basic education in the state.
The UBEC procured 17 motorcycles and one Toyota Hummer bus, while the state government bought two Hilux pick up vans to compliment the efforts of the Federal Government.
Our correspondent reports that the flag-off of the equipment at the River State Universal Basic Education Board (RSUBEB) headquarters in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday, was to herald the full implementation of quality assurance policies and programmes to advance the development of basic education as well as ensure daily supervision and monitoring of schools in the state.
Speaking at the commissioning of the equipment at RSUBEB Office, the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Abuja, Dr Hamad Boboyi, said the equipment were procured from the 2 per cent portion of UBEC Consolidated Funds as approved for the state Universal Basic Education Board to boost its quality assurance programme in line with the UBEC policies.
Represented on the occasion by the state UBEB Coordinator, Mr Isaac Ichenwo, said the items commissioned would help the board monitor schools in the rural areas, especially those in the coastal areas.
He commended the efforts of teachers in the state for their dexterity in the discharge of their duties, adding that the SUBEB was the first among other states in the country to adopt the quality assurance policy of the commission.
“Our teachers are doing well here, especially in the quality assurance area as schools in the state can be accessed from anywhere.
“The girl and boy child at the rural areas need to be accessed, while our teachers must be supervised to see how they are doing their duties in order to justify their salary”, he stated.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board (RSUBEB), Ven Fyneface Ndubuisi Akah, commended the Federal Government and state government for the value attached to the monitoring and evaluation policy of the board through the release of funds for the procurement of the various equipment.
Akah noted that the world over, quality assurance has become the key for the development of education, adding that everybody must cue into the concept in order to know how to do things differently.
He expressed happiness with the Federal Government support through the UBEC and that of the state government in complimenting the efforts of the Federal Government in ensuring that the quality assurance programme of the board works effectively.
“The essence of quality assurance is for us to show our quality content. So, we need men and women who will devote their time for this great task. So, staff of Quality Assurance Department and those for monitoring and supervision of our schools must rise up to this task”, he stated.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the RSUBEB Director in charge of Quality Assurance, Mr Ibama Owukio, had said the quality assurance policy has ensured the sustained inspection and supervision of schools, adding that quality assurance unearths the strength and weakness of schools.
He averred that quality assurance was the heartbeat of the policy, adding that whatever provision made must be thoroughly monitored to yield the expected results.