In a bid to equip quality assurance officers with the necessary skills that would enhance effective performance in basic education institutions and monitoring, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), and the Rivers State Basic Education Board (RSUBEB) have commenced a five-day capacity training workshop for school monitors drawn from local government education areas (LGEAs) in Rivers State.
The aim of the five-day workshop, which has the theme: “Effective School Evaluation, A Panacea for Improving Learning and Strengthening of the School System”, is among other things, to ensure that quality assurance officers follow standards and behaviours for evaluation of schools in the state.
Speaking at the opening ceremony in Port Harcourt, last Monday, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Hamid Bobboyi said that capacity building was crucial in other to enhance and develop competencies and skills that would make staff more effective and committed.
Represented by Mr Alabi Baba Asaju, the executive secretary said that it was the reason UBEC has been very passionate and committed towards providing the necessary interventions for states in various facets in the sub-sector.
Bobboyi urged the participants to give the training workshop all the seriousness it deserves because there were a lot of lessons to learn from the facilitators who themselves have worked so hard to put up quality contents that are “fit-for-purpose”, bearing in mind that professional development of education managers must be accompanied by organizational development and improvement in schools.
He used the opportunity to commend the chairman, management, staff and all quality assurance officers for the efforts put in to ensure that effectiveness and efficiency were entrenched in basic education schools in the state.
Also speaking, the Director, Quality Assurance in UBEC, Mal Mansir Idris, said that the assessment of quality assurance officers done in 2017 (first level) training meant to ascertain officer’s understanding of the contents vis-a-vis quality assurance activities saw some officers scoring far below 50per cent mark, adding that the situation called for more proactive measures to assist such officers acquire the desired knowledge and skills for effectiveness.
Represented by UBEC State Coordinator, Mr Isaac Ichenwo, the director said any quality assurance officer who failed to meet up with the required marks after the three levels of training may be recommended for transfer to other departments, and expressed optimism that the outcome of the training would further strengthen their capacity to function effectively.
Declaring the workshop open, the Executive Chairman of the RSUBEB, Ven Fyneface Akah, said the effectiveness of the evaluators in school monitoring would impact and improve the education standards in the state.
Represented by the Commissioner in charge of Administration, RSUBEB, Chief Faith Amaso, Akah warned not to compromise in their responsibilities, saying that they represent the eyes of the board in monitoring the activities and performance of teachers in the various schools across the state.
“Decadence in our schools is as a result of compromise by school evaluators. They represent the board at the grassroots, and their work has tremendous impact on the development of education, if they do their work very well. They should do their work without compromise”, he stated.
Earlier in her address of welcome, the Director, Quality Assurance, RSUBEB, Mrs Edith Jack said the significance of the second phase of the training cannot be over-emphasized, adding that the school evaluators were being equipped for effective school supervision as well as to enable them know what to look out for in performing their responsibilities.
She thanked the executive chairman for his support to the department through regular training, prompt implementation of policies and recommendations, and urged the participants to take the training seriously to improve on their job performance.

By: Akujobi Amadi