Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC), Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, has commended Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, for the ongoing education reforms as well as the governor’s foresight in conducting a school census in the state to strengthen the education sector.

Dr. Bobboyi made the submission in Benin City, during the monitoring of ongoing National Personnel Audit (NPA) of primary and secondary schools in the state being conducted by UBEC.

Recall that the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) had conducted a similar exercise in public schools few months ago, comprising public primary and secondary schools from Kindergarten to Senior Secondary School (SS) 3. The current exercise by UBEC covers public and private schools across the country.

In his remarks, Bobboyi said, “It is highly commendable that the state governor understands the essence of the exercise, having conducted a similar exercise to generate data from schools to aid planning. The exercise by UBEC will help map out primary and secondary schools across the state.”

According to him, “The ongoing National Personnel Audit is being organised to collect data for planning. The exercise is being carried out in public and private schools. It also covers faith-based schools and is being conducted nation-wide. Through the exercise, UBEC will develop a geographical information system (GIS) for locations of the schools. This will be done in collaboration with the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASDRA). The data generated will be useful for strategic planning in the basic education sub-sector.”

Acting Chairman, Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and Special Adviser to the Governor on Basic Education, Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe, said, “The state will continue to strengthen existing collaboration with UBEC as the state governor remains committed in his strategic vision to improve access to quality basic education in the state.”

She commended the team of enumerators, noting, “The state government will be as responsive as possible in areas where there are challenges in the ongoing exercise.”

Dr. Oviawe urged private school proprietors to collaborate with the enumerators who are going round to collect the data for the NPA, adding that the exercise is not intended to increase tax of private schools' proprietors.

Proprietor, Inomwan Foundation School, in Benin City, Gen. (Rtd.) Godwin Abbe, commended the state governor for the initiative to reposition the basic education sector, noting, “Governor Godwin Obaseki’s ongoing reforms in the basic education sector have set a fantastic pace in repositioning the sector.”

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