2023 KwaraLEARN Media Mentions

No more invisibility for girls: Closing the gender gap through Education

March 13, 2023

On International Women’s Day every year, we honour the accomplishments and impact of remarkable females throughout the world in line with the theme ‘DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality’

However, there are still countless girls who remain unseen and unheard The UN SDG 5 is focused on achieving gender equality and giving all women and girls the same opportunities by 2030. Unfortunately, we are not even close to reaching many of these objectives; education being one of them.

Education is an essential area in which solutions must be implemented to achieve equity One of the most significant hindrances to achieving gender equity is the absence of global data on girls and women – making it challenging to develop solutions

According to a UN Women article, only 48% of the information necessary for tracking SDG 5 is accessible The article conveys this idea emphatically: “Where data is absent, women and girls are invisible ”

In Sub-Saharan Africa, the lack of data on learning outcomes and education is huge Data is missing for both girls and boys, but girls are impacted more as learning inequities are more common. A 2022 UNESCO GEM report reveals that there is no data at all on the learning levels of two-thirds of African children

However capturing data is a core part of the KwaraLEARN model By supporting government partners to track data, girls who were previously invisible are seen – meaning when support is given excellent learning outcomes are assured

A recent study shows the benefits of KwaraLEARN’s model. By tracking student progress across indicators like attendance and academic performance, data can be used to develop methods and techniques that directly promote learning outcomes for girls To see increases in learning outcomes for girls in Africa, it is essential that governments and education stakeholders are supported in education programs and systems that embrace the potential of capturing learning data

UNESCO has noted that the difference in school attendance between girls and boys is shrinking, although in certain areas like Sub-Saharan Africa girls are still less likely to attend and remain in education With Improved learning, and learning outcomes, girls will more likely attend school, and stay on

Having access to education, and the support to attend school is often the first learning barrier many girls face.UNESCO has noted that the difference in school attendance between girls and boys is shrinking, although in certain areas like Sub-Saharan Africa girls are still less likely to attend and remain in education With Improved learning, and learning outcomes, girls will more likely attend school, and stay on

In KwaraLEARN, which NewGlobe is the technical partner, there is a higher level of involvement from girls – 8% more likely than those attending government schools outside the programme

Numerous examinations of education in Africa have revealed models where girls do not get adequate encouragement to learn

The Nobel Prize Laureate Professor Michael Kremer found the opposite when he led a study of NewGlobesupported schools in Kenya His 2022 report revealed that learning gains were equally large for girls and boys in NewGlobe support schools The findings contrast with established research which shows girls in SubSaharan Africa are consistently disadvantaged in learning with lower literacy rates than boys even when both have the same educational attainment

For girls to engage and succeed in school, they must feel represented and have positive role models.This can be challenging in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a 2019 NewGlobe study highlighting: “arguably, the most common barrier for girls [in Sub-Saharan Africa] has been the lacking societal sense of entitlement to education ”

KwaraLEARN model aims to break down these barriers By ensuring girls are represented and encouraged to learn, an environment is built that engages them A few examples of this include:

Commissioning all artwork and creative stories in textbooks and workbooks to ensure equal visibility of male and female characters, ensuring female characters are in powerful and unconventional roles

Introducing school leadership roles for both girls and boys

Approximately 60% of KwaraLEARN teachers are women, providing role models within the classroom and community.

Fostering partnerships, such as coding programs, aiming to close the gender gap of girls and women in STEM

This International Women’s Day must focus on foundations; the foundations of learning, the foundations of gender equity, and the solutions needed to ensure they are part of the future for all women and girls It’s time to make sure all girls are visible

As the world celebrates the significant achievements and contributions of girls and women around the globe, engaging in discussion about gender equity KwaraLEARN emphasizes the importance of having a strong focus on the foundation of equity and empowerment – education and the ability to learn.

March 2, 2023

How we’re transforming education through KwaraLEARN — AbdulRazaq

Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has reiterated the commitment of his administration to the development of education in the state through one of the state’s initiatives tagged ‘KwaraLEARN

The programme is one of the solutions aimed at reducing the number of outof-school children and retraining teachers and school administrators in digital and scientific teaching methods as they have now been providing this education to public primary schools pupils in 10 local government areas of the state.

At the recently held phase 2 of the KwaraLEARN teachers’ induction training graduation ceremony held in llorin, the state capital, the governor said his investments in the education sector would continue despite the dwindling revenues and competing priorities

He noted that “providing a solid foundation in primary education is crucial for children’s development

“We are investing heavily in education and human capital development because we prioritise the sector and the future of the state ”

In addition to incorporating technology into the learning processes in schools in Kwara State, the governor stated that his government would continue to place a premium on the well-being of teachers.

He assured the teachers of improved welfare packages beyond the payment of their salaries

“Aside from all these, we are working on a housing scheme, which will come into place very soon We are also coming up with a scheme under which teachers will have access to car loans ” The state chairman of the National Union of Teachers,

Mr Oyewo Bashiru Ayinde, lauded the governor for the support being provided to his members through the programme

“The KwaraLEARN initiative has greatly transformed the way teaching and learning are being approached in the state now, focusing more on the needs of the pupils.

“The new technology now allows teachers to continuously learn and improve their teaching skills. In all, it has been a wonderful experience,” he said

Other stakeholders at the event also noted that when teachers are provided with proper resources and training, the learners have a lot to benefit They also agreed that KwaraLEARN compared to the traditional teaching methods would significantly improve learning outcomes in numeracy and literacy among the pupils

The parents also praised the KwaraLEARN programme, noting the improvements in their children

One of the parents, Mrs Munirat Jimoh, said “I am pleased with the progress my kids are making through KwaraLEARN I did not anticipate them performing so well in their examinations. My son in Primary 5 came second, while the one in Primary 3 came first.”

At Bishop Smith LGEA School B, another parent, MadinatSanni, also recognised the academic advancement of her wards “My child is performing well I regularly check in with his teacher, and I am pleased with his progress,” she said

February 21st, 2023

How we’re transforming education through KwaraLEARN — AbdulRazaq

KKwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has flagged off the distribution of 120,000 customised exercise books, 1,600 cartons of white chalks and 90 android tablets for basic schools in the state

Other items distributed for the basic schools at an event that took place at Burhanudeen Primary School, Ojagboro in Ilorin, are rulers, pencils, textbooks and other instructional materials

According to the governor, the programme was another bold testimonial of how far his administration had gone in reshaping the future of the state through provision of qualitative education

The governor, who was represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Strategy, Alhaji Saadu Salahu, said that “History will remember how our administration took basic education from total collapse to a new height, where Kwara State now ranks among the best in the country ”

AbdulRazaq added: “Our in-terventions have been in phases and strategic. We began with restoring our relationship with UBEC. We have injected billions of naira into improving the learning environment across the state, and this is visible to the blind

We hired very competent teachers to man the classrooms We introduced technology to empower these teachers and bring them up to speed in the 21st century teaching techniques through the KwaraLEARN initiative

“We pay teachers their salaries in full, and we are steadily clearing the arrears we inherited. We have zero tolerance for examination malpractices. We have also introduced various incentives to encourage excellence across various levels On top of these is the distribution of books, computers and other educational materials to our basic schools

“The results have been impressive, but we can do better together School enrollment has improved by 45 per cent across the state Today, Kwara State now has the fifth lowest out-of-school children in the country, according to the NBS data We have also recorded appreciable improvement in literacy and numeracy skills among Kwara school children This is due to our commitments to inclusive growth through human capital development ”

Earlier, the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof. Shehu Adaramaja, had disclosed that the governor’s intervention on basic education culminated in the state now occupying number five position on the list of SUBEB assessment table

“Before the inauguration of Governor AbdulRahman Abdul- Razaq’s administration in 2019, Kwara SUBEB was occupying the 37th position, even the FCT was better than us then,” he stated

The SUBEB boss added: “His Excellency’s renewed relationship with UBEC has also attracted three out of 30 FG/UBEC Bilingual Education Schools to the state. Construction works are ongoing in Share (Ifelodun LGA), Ballah (Asa LGA) and Bani (Kaiama LGA)

Let me also add that our governor’s good interpersonal relationship has also earned the state one of the best UBEC Smart Model Schools in the country This school is located at Adeta in Ilorin West LGA and will soon commence academic activities by April, 2023

AbdulRazaqBriefsKwaraProfessionalsinLagoson Strides,Post-2023Plans

31-Jan-2023

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq at the weekend met with a rich crop of Kwara professionals resident in Lagos, debriefing them on the journey since 2019, the measurable strides of his administration across different sectors, and his vision for the state when re-elected in the 2023 ballot

The briefing was a continuation of the governor’s multi-prong stakeholders’ engagements that peaked a few months ago with town hall and village square meetings held in different parts of the state and broadcast live on the revamped state-owned television and radio station and other private media platforms

Quoting facts and figures from the past and present, the governor said the administration met a collapsed basic education sector, while the Colleges of Education were all down owing to nonpayment of salaries and lack of accreditation

He said the administration has been able to turn things around in the area of infrastructural and human resource development, welfare for workers, and the introduction of technology to give the Kwara child a headstart in life

The governor said the introduction of KwaraLEARN programme has raised school enrollment by at least 45% and boosted numeracy and literacy skills in the first phase that comprised just four local governments, adding that the programme now operates in 11 local government areas and would extend to the rest of the state later this year

He also spoke about how the administration has improved healthcare delivery at the primary and secondary levels and won the confidence of different development partners like UNICEF, while its investments in the sector have earned the state university an accreditation to run medicine

programme with medical school billed to take off at the Ilorin General Hospital AbdulRazaq said the state no longer tops the national table in open defecation as it did before in 2019, while Kwara now posts great indices in maternal health care and hospital attendance

He said the administration has revamped many of the dead waterworks which were largely built during the Sardauna years, and built two new ones to improve water supply in the state, including in the capital city where tanker was once the source of public water supply.

“We have been deliberate in spreading development, and we are glad that our people have a better sense of ownership of their state today than ever before. What we have done is to stabilise Kwara for growth and development

“We have many road projects across the state We have designed a sustainable development plan, an agricultural master plan, and a new master plan for our capital city, and we are designing for other parts of the state We are planning different industrial parks, including one at Eiyenkorin, another in Kwara South, and an agroprocessing factory in Kwara North,” he said, adding that the administration’s economic expansion efforts such as support for small scale enterprises are fast making Kwara a new hub

The governor also spoke about his many road projects across the state, including a plan to construct the road that links Agbamu to Ila Orangun to boost economic growth in that axis

He said the state is attracting different positive attention and investments, including an upcoming $50 million Olam project for which some lands are being allocated and a share of the $10 billion renewable energy project to be funded by the US government.

The governor, who took time to respond to questions from the professionals, also spoke about the herders-farmers’ issue and a need to address it as a solution to food security and national cohesion, the status of Shonga Farm, the garment factory of the administration, IV-TEC, and tourism potentials of the state AbdulRazaq also urged the Kwara professionals to support the candidature of APC’s Bola Tinubu, who he said will clearly favour Kwara in infrastructural development and other dividends of democracy

The professionals took turns to commend the governor’s developmental strides in the state, with many of them mentioning different areas they have felt his work back home, including the interventions in the remotest corners of the state like Onila community in Irepodun.

AbdulRazaqBriefsKwaraProfessionalsinLagoson Strides,Post-2023Plans

“It is profound indeed that your government pays good attention to basic needs of the people, including in Onila We are very proud of that,” Mr Emmanuel Oyebanji (SAN) told the governor, urging him to do a lot more Professor Bayo Oladipo, the Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Lagos, said he was impressed by the governor’s focus on the development of the education sector, especially the employment of qualified teachers.

He charged the governor to pay more attention to the Colleges of Education to ensure that they deliver on their core mandate of training quality teachers

“We have no regret at all that we supported you in 2019 We are glad about what you have achieved with the little resources People talk about the modest change here and there,” Mr Bayo Atoyebi, a lawyer and entrepreneur, said

Otunba Ademola Adedoyin, a PR expert, said the governor’s briefing was quite comprehensive, clear and enlightening as it touched on the situation in 2019, the strides and challenges of the administration, and his roadmap for the future

The stakeholders’ engagement was attended by Senators Sadiq Umar (Kwara North) and Lola Ashiru (Kwara South); House of Representatives members Tunji Olawuyi Ajuloopin and Tijani Ismail; APC senatorial candidate for Kwara Central Turaki Salihu Mustapha; APC House of Representatives candidate for Asa/Ilorin West Mukhtar Shagaya; APC House of Representatives candidate for Ilorin East/South Ahmed Yinka Aluko; APC House of Representatives candidate for Edu/Patigi Ahmed Saba; APC chieftain, Alhaji Raheem Adedoyin; Alhaji Olanrewaju Ajiboye; Senior People Advisor (West Africa) at the British Council Anthony Oyeyiola;

PR Executive Bola Olukoju; Company Secretary at Eko Hotels and Suite, Chief Samuel Alabi; General Manager of Kwara State Television, Mr Michaels Olatunde Oyeyiola; Daily Trust’s top reporter, Abdullateef Aliyu; and legal practitioner, Alhaji Tajudeen Adedoyin, among others

KwaraLEARN:InvestingInPeople,PrioritisingEducation

OurGoals–AbdulRazaq

25-Jan-2023

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State has reiterated the dedication of his administration to delivering education that is both highquality and relevant to the 21st century

Speaking at the Phase 2 of KwaraLEARN Teachers’ Induction Training Graduation Ceremony in Ilorin, the State capital, the governor emphasised that, “Our huge investment in the education sector continues despite dwindling revenues and competing priorities for governments worldwide. We are investing heavily in education and human capital development because we prioritise the sector and the future of the state ”

According to AbdulRazaq, “Kwara State emphasis on enhancing the quality of education and the wellbeing of both teachers and pupils would be highly praised by UNESCO, the United Nations’s education agency, which frequently advocates for investing in education By focusing on the development of both pupils and teachers, describing the latter as the bedrock of the State and the former as the future of the State, Kwara State aligns with the theme of this year’s International Day of Education, “Investing in People, Prioritising Education”. January 24th was designated as the International Day of Education by the UN in 2018 to recognize the significance of education for growth and peace.

“The International Day of Education is a reminder that despite the progress being made in terms of global growth, there are still societies that do not prioritise education This day serves as a call to action, emphasising the importance of inclusive and equitable quality education for all in order to achieve gender equality and break the cycle of poverty

i“My government’s focus on human capital development through strategic interventions, such as the KwaraLEARN programme, has been a comforting solution to the problem of children and youths being out of school The government’s efforts have been praised globally. As part of this effort, thousands of government teachers and school leaders have been retrained in digital and scientific teaching methods and are now providing this education to public primary schools in ten Local Government Areas in the state ”

AbdulRazaq further explained the significant investment made in primary education as a way to improve the learning outcomes of pupils He believed that providing a solid foundation in primary education is crucial for children’s development

“KwaraLEARN, which is supported by NewGlobe as its technical partner, ensures that every teacher receives instructional guidance that is based on the latest pedagogical research This technology allows for world-class lessons to be delivered by all teachers and also enables real-time monitoring from every classroom in every school, which is designed to maximise learning.

“This technology allows us to decrease absenteeism, truancy, and absenteeism among teachers By using remote monitoring, we can monitor who is teaching what and the quality of teaching across primary schools,” he added.

He stated that KwaraLEARN has trained primary school head-teachers and teachers in the use of digital technology, such as tablets and updated curricula

The programme has been implemented in 870 public primary schools in the State and has improved the interaction between teachers and pupils through the use of eLearning

“In addition to incorporating technology, Kwara places a strong emphasis on the wellbeing of its teachers During the closing ceremony of the Phase 2 Teachers’ Induction Training, His Excellency reemphasised his administrations’ commitment to the wellbeing of teachers

“I assured teachers of improved welfare packages beyond paying their salaries. We appreciated the best teachers recently. We are working on a

housing scheme, which will come in place very soon by the grace of God We will also come up with a scheme under which teachers will have access to car loans.

“As this year’s International World Education Day highlights, I understands the value of investing in the education sector. He recognizes the transformative power of quality education and is working to provide pupils with a more promising future through the KwaraLEARN programme, which not only improves their education but also provides their teachers with the skills necessary for a successful 21st-century education system,” he stated

The chairman of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), Kwara State Wing, Comrade Oyewo Bashiru Ayinde, has praised the support provided to his members

“KwaraLEARN has transformed the way teaching and learning is approached, making it more focused on the needs of the pupils. The technology also allows the teachers to continuously learn and improve as they have access to guidance and support. Overall, it has been a positive experience,” he said

When teachers are provided with proper resources and training, the pupils are the primary recipients of the benefits A study conducted by 2019 Nobel Prize-winning economist Professor Michael Kremer in Kenya discovered that the methodologies used in KwaraLEARN led to significantly improved learning outcomes in numeracy and literacy compared to traditional teaching methods, with pupils learning twice as much in numeracy and three times as much in literacy This study is considered one of the most rigorously conducted interventions in Africa and Emerging Markets.

At various forums, parents have praised Governor AbdulRazaq’s KwaraLEARN programme, noting improvements in their children

One of the parents during the First Week of School Visits, Mrs. Munirat Jimoh, stated, “I am pleased with the progress my kids are making through KwaraLEARN. I did not anticipate them performing so well in the exams, my son in Primary 5 came second, while the one is Primary 3 came first ”

At the Bishop Smith LGEA School B, Hajia Madinat Sanni, a parent, also recognised the academic advancements of her wards

“My child is performing so well I regularly check in with his teacher and I’m pleased with his progress,” she added

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AbdulRazaqHarpsOnCommitmentToQualityEducation

16-Jan-2023

Kwara State governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has restated the commitment of his administration to quality education and human capital development

The governor said the huge investment in the sector continues despite dwindling revenues and competing priorities for governments worldwide.

“Our expenses have really gone up. We are implementing KwaraLEARN We’re paying UBEC counterpart funding, which the previous administration could not pay We are investing heavily in education and human capital development because we prioritise the sector and the future of this state, ” AbdulRazaq said weekend in Ilorin at the induction of new set of teachers trained for KwaraLEARN programme

KwaraLEARN is a flagship education programme of the AbdulRazaq administration, which involves the use of modern technology to train teachers, improve teaching techniques, and boost education outcomes for school children. It berthed in four local government areas (Baruten, Ilorin East, Ilorin West, and Offa) last year, with at least 45% rise in school attendance by November 2022 and significant improvements in literacy and numeracy skills of pupils

The governor said the programme costs a lot of money but is hugely necessary to secure the future of the Kwara child

“If you look at the figures, between 2015 and 2019 the income to the state – FAAC, IGR and the likes were higher than what we have received between 2019 and today By December last year, we earned N44bn less than the last administration Yet, we are paying the N30,000 minimum wage and consequential adjustment which they could not pay,” he explained, pointing at the prudence of the administration and its commitment to people’s welfare.

AbdulRazaq assured teachers of improved welfare packages with the planned introduction of housing scheme and car loan support to address mobility and accommodation challenges

He urged the teachers to continue to support his administration to consolidate on the achievements recorded so far

“When I walked in here and I saw your faces, I saw excitement I saw that you are happy with what you are doing You appreciate what the state government is doing Do we need to do more? Yes We will do more. Your welfare is important to us. We would have gone beyond this level,” he said.

‘Kwara Paid N3.5bn as Pension, Gratuity to Retirees last Month’

16-Jan-2023

Kwara State Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq at the weekend disclosed that, his administration paid a total sum of N3 5billion last month as pension and gratuity to retired civil servants in the state

He said that, the payment covered 2009 and 2010 arrears of the retired workers in the state.

Speaking in Ilorin at the induction of new set of teachers trained for KwaraLEARN programme, the governor AbdulRazaq said: “We should have used that money to do some other projects under this administration but we used it to clear the liabilities they left That is what happens in all sectors ”

He added: “We are using our resources to cover liabilities of the past We feel it is a necessity to do so as a matter of government’s obligation to the people ” According to him, “By December last year, we earned N44 billion less than the last administration If you look at the figures, between 2015 and 2019 the income to the state – FAAC, IGR and the likes were higher than what we have received between 2019 and today ”

“And yet, we are paying the N30,000 minimum wage and consequential adjustment which they could not pay and pointing up the prudence of the administration and its commitment to people’s welfare.”

On the KwaraLEARN project, AbdulRazaq said that the present administration remained committed to quality education and human capital development

KwaraLEARN is a flagship education programme of the AbdulRazaq administration which involves the use of modern technology to train teachers,

improve teaching techniques, and boost education outcomes for school children

It berthed in four local government areas (Baruten, Ilorin East, Ilorin West, and Offa) last year, with at least 45 per cent rise in school attendance by November 2022 and significant improvements in literacy and numeracy skills of pupils.

He, however, said that the huge investment in the sector continues despite dwindling revenues and competing priorities for governments worldwide

He said: “Our expenses have really gone up We are implementing KwaraLEARN We are paying UBEC counterpart funding, which the previous administration could not pay

“We are investing heavily in education and human capital development because we prioritise the sector and the future of this state ”

The governor said the programme costs a lot of money but is hugely necessary to secure the future of the Kwara child AbdulRazaq assured teachers of improved welfare packages with the planned introduction of housing scheme and car loan support to address mobility and accommodation challenges.

He added: “We will continue to work on your welfare, not just salaries We are working on the housing scheme, which will come in place very soon by the grace of God

“You have seen how we appreciated the best teachers and so on. We will also come up with a scheme under which you will have access to car loans.

“So, stay the course with us Things will improve If the former administration had not dropped the ball, you would have been singing different tunes now ”

Education: AbdulRazaq Restates Commitment as More LGs Join KwaraLEARN

14-Jan-2023

Education: AbdulRazaq Restates

Commitment as More LGs Join KwaraLEARN

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has said his administration remains committed to quality education and human capital development, recalling how he had saved the sector from collapse and relaunched Kwara for greater future The Governor said the huge investment in the sector continues despite dwindling revenues and competing priorities for governments worldwide.

“Our expenses have really gone up. We are implementing KwaraLEARN We’re paying UBEC counterpart funding, which the previous administration could not pay We are investing heavily in education and human capital development because we prioritise the sector and the future of this state, ” AbdulRazaq said on Saturday in Ilorin at the induction of new set of teachers trained for KwaraLEARN programme

KwaraLEARN is a flagship education programme of the AbdulRazaq administration, which involves the use of modern technology to train teachers, improve teaching techniques, and boost education outcomes for school children. It berthed in four local government areas (Baruten, Ilorin East, Ilorin West, and Offa) last year, with at least 45% rise in school attendance by November 2022 and significant improvements in literacy and numeracy skills of pupils

The Governor said the programme costs a lot of money but is hugely necessary to secure the future of the Kwara child

“If you look at the figures, between 2015 and 2019 the income to the state – FAAC, IGR and the likes were higher

than what we have received between 2019 and today By December last year, we earned N44bn less than the last administration Yet, we are paying the N30,000 minimum wage and consequential adjustment which they could not pay,” he explained, pointing up the prudence of the administration and its commitment to people’s welfare.

AbdulRazaq assured teachers of improved welfare packages with the planned introduction of housing scheme and car loan support to address mobility and accommodation challenges

He added: “We will continue to work on your welfare, not just salaries We are working on the housing scheme, which will come in place very soon by the grace of God You have seen how we appreciated the best teachers and so on We will also come up with a scheme under which you will have access to car loans So, stay the course with us Things will improve If the former administration had not dropped the ball, you would have been singing different tunes now For instance, last month, we paid N3 5bn for pensions and gratuities to cover 2009 and 2010, among other arrears. We should have used that money to do some other projects under this administration. But we used it to clear

the liabilities they left That is what happens in all sectors We are using our resources to cover liabilities of the past We feel it is a necessity to do so as a matter of government’s obligation to the people ”

He urged the teachers to continue to support his administration to consolidate on the achievements recorded so far.

“When I walked in here and I saw your faces, I saw excitement I saw that you are happy with what you are doing You appreciate what the state government is doing Do we need to do more? Yes We will do more Your welfare is important to us We would have gone beyond this level,” he said

“It is part of our commitment to education that brought you here Stay the course with us We will improve on what we do to consolidate on the successes achieved so far We thank you for the success of our children in the presidential school debate With the right motivation, we believe you can do better This is a serious government. We will continue to invest in education. We thank you for the service you are rendering to Kwara.”

Permanent

Secretary Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Mrs Mary Adeosun, for her part, said the administration has changed the narrative in the education sector, saying the teachers are now more dedicated, committed and responsive in line with the commitment of the governor.

KwaraLearn Project Director Olusegun

Abiola disclosed that six more local government areas have been integrated into the KwaraLEARN programme to ensure that the pupils get quality education in line with global best standards

“We started with four local governments (Ilorin West, Ilorin East, Baruten and Offa) in April last year for the pilot scheme and we now extended to six more local government areas to make it 10 Now, we have Asa, Patigi, Irepodun, Ilorin South, Oke-Ero and and Ekiti local government areas enrolled to the scheme So, we are looking forward to integrating the remaining six local governments before the year runs out,” he said.

“KwaraLEARN programme is designed to improve learning outcomes in the state. This kind of programme only exists in four states in the country The essence of the programme is to integrate technology into learning and to ensure that the pupils get quality education in line with global standards

“This programme is to make the children learn like their counterparts in Kenya, Liberia, Rwanda and other countries where this programme is being deployed So, the Governor, being a visionary leader with people of Kwara State at heart and knowing the children of Kwara State as the future of the state, has invested heavily in the programme to ensure that the pupils stand side-by-side with their counterparts anywhere.”

K-Learn is designed to transform the Kwara State Education sector – Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu

23rd December, 2022

The Kwara State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, today performed the closing ceremony of the Kwara Learn Teachers induction training closing/Graduation

Addressing the trainees, the Commissioner congratulated them for being the pioneer educators to test run and deliver the gains of Kwara Learn

“You are difference makers, see yourselves as such” she emphasized “I can already feel your positive energy. Please replicate the same when you return to your classrooms”, she charged.

“Kwara Learn is designed to transform the Kwara State Education sector, with its imminent medium and long term effect on prosperity and economic development in Kwara communities”, Hajia Modibbo Kawu added.

“Kwara Learn is designed to transform the Kwara State Education sector, with its imminent medium and long term effect on prosperity and economic development in Kwara communities”, the Commissioner noted

The Kwara Learn Program represents a vision for the new Kwara; an initiative of the Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq administration. Kwara Learn in its first year, has increased enrollments of primary school students in the four pilot LGA’s (Ilorin West, Ilorin East, Baruten and Offa LGAs) and learning outcomes have continued to improve with the introduction of Kwara Learn

Sh expressed gratitude to the Kwara Learn support team, for working round the clock to ensure an excellent training delivery

The participants applauded Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his administration’s investment in education, and his concern for teachers’ welfare

Certificates of completion were also issued to selected participants by the Honourable Commisioner.

KwaraLEARN: KWSG opens training, promises improvement in education

20th December, 2022

In furtherance of its bid to improve the quality of education across the State, the Kwara State Government has declared open training for additional 3,320 headteachers and teachers from 505 public primary schools

The training programme, which focuses on technology-enabled teaching and effective classroom management, was declared open by in Ilorin, the State capital with prominent stakeholders in attendance

Speaking at the official opening the Executive Chairman, Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (KWSUBEB) Professor Shehu Adaramaja said KwaraLEARN programme would put so many teachers and Head teachers in public schools on their toes in the discharge of their primary assignments.

He also stated that the essence of the KwaraLEARN is to inculcate modern technology into teaching profession in Kwara State Public Schools with a view to further improve education at the grassroots across the 16 Local Government Areas of the State

At the official opening ceremony of the programme which took place at Queen Elizabeth Secondary School, Ilorin, Adaramaja noted that the programme has impacted significantly on the education programme of the state going by the assessment of the participating teachers and pupils after the pilot scheme in which four major local government areas were involved

The Executive Chairman also said that KwaraLEARN has improved pupils’ enrollment in public schools across the State.

“Since the commencement of the exercise, the attitudes of the teachers towards their work have changed in the four pilot local governments,” he said.

He explained that the device known as teacher’s Tablets have the ability of monitoring the activities of the teachers on daily basis particularly during official hours

He mentioned that the device also reduces some of the hardship faced by the teachers while preparing their lesson notes and other documents needed in the discharge of their duties.

Adaramaja informed that very soon those teachers that have distinguished themselves with quality services would be rewarded and those that are not doing what they were engaged for would also face severe punishment

The essence of rewarding those that are working is to encourage them to do more

“We have stopped salaries of some of our teachers because they have failed in the discharge of their duties, many have been suspended and some have also been transferred

“With technology, we can achieve so many things particularly in our education sector.”

Adaramaja further explained that the reason for KwaraLEARN is to inculcate technology into education system for better results, adding that quality education can be achieved if school leaders and teachers are trained and supported.

The Herald reports that the new LGAs currently undergoing training are Asa, Ekiti, Ilorin South, Irepodun, Oke-Ero and Patigi.

He further mentioned that the training would be held for another batch between 4th-14th January 2023

Also in an exclusive interview with journalists at the venue of the event, the Schools Director for KwaraLEARN, Mr Segun Sanusi explained that KwaraLEARN programme affords teachers the right digital tools to be at their best, while providing an electronic platform to make classrooms and schools transparent

According to him, the technology will help to achieve effective monitoring of attendance and performance of pupils and teachers in all classrooms, offering continual support and feedback.

“KwaraLEARN is transforming government primary schools across the State into powerful public schools using an innovative technology and datadriven platform, coupled with high-quality learning materials, effective training and ongoing coaching for teachers and school leaders, and technology-enabled support teams to create 360degree support for learning outcomes.

“The Smart Phones provided to the Head Teachers are different from the Tablets given to the Teachers ”

Mr Segun Abiola, the KwaraLEARN Project Director said the initiative came to improve teaching and learning in schools “The new system in education would take the education from its deplorable condition to another level ”

He disclosed that Nigeria is one of the nations where education is in serious deplorable situation and called for a better and lasting solution especially with all relevant stakeholders putting heads together to achieve the desired result.

He commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his giant strides in ensuring that quality education is provided for Kwarans at all levels

The first training saw 2,690 teachers from four LGAs (Baruten, Ilorin East, Ilorin West, and Offa) trained in April 2022

The Permanent Secretary, Kwara State Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Mrs Mary Kemi Adeosun commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for the initiative.

She also described it as a very laudable project that would further enhance the status of education especially at the grassroots.

In a recent edition, The Herald had reported that 3,320 headteachers and teachers from 505 public primary schools will be trained on technologyenabled teaching and effective classroom management.

The teacher induction training which will be organized in two 10-day phases, started on Monday, December 12, 2022, and would end on January 13, 2023.

The teacher induction training is facilitated by the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (KWSUBEB) through KwaraLEARN

With the training, KwaraLEARN will soon enter its second phase and be implemented in 505 schools across six LGAs Over the next year, the government intends to empower teachers in all 16 Local Government Areas across the State

A release from KwaraLEARN said “KwaraLEARN, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s public education transformation programme will expand to 6 additional Local Government Areas (LGAs) making 10 in total.

“Building on KwaraLEARN’s success since inception in November 2021, an additional 3320 teachers will be trained in technology-enabled teaching techniques and effective classroom management skills as the program is set to grow to new LGA’s.

“The teacher induction training demonstrates the KWSG’s commitment to improving teaching and learning quality. The phase two teacher training is taking place at an ideal time, reinforcing Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s vision of strengthening education systems to ensure accessible, affordable, high-quality, and inclusive education for all ”

KwaraLEARN: 3,320 headteachers, teachers from 505 public primary schools for training

13th December, 2022

As part of the Kwara State Government’s efforts to improve the quality of education, an additional 3,320 headteachers and teachers from 505 public primary schools will be trained on technology-enabled teaching and effective classroom management.

The Herald reports that the teacher induction training which will be organised in two 10-day phases, started on Monday, December 12, 2022, and would end on January 13, 2023

The teacher induction training is facilitated by the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (KWSUBEB) through KwaraLEARN

The Herald also reports that KwaraLEARN which is currently being implemented in four LGAs and 363 schools will soon enter its second phase and be implemented in 505 schools across six LGAs

Over the next year, the government intends to empower teachers in all 16 Local Government Areas across the State.

A release from KwaraLearn and made available to The Herald, said “KwaraLEARN, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s public education transformation programme will expand to 6 additional local government areas (LGAs) making 10 in total.

"Building on KwaraLEARN’s success since inception in November 2021, an additional 3320 teachers will be trained in technology-enabled teaching techniques and effective classroom management skills as the program is set to grow to new LGA’s.

“The teacher induction training demonstrates the KWSG’s commitment to improving teaching and learning quality The phase two teacher training is taking place at an ideal time, reinforcing Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s vision of strengthening education systems to ensure accessible, affordable, high-quality, and inclusive education for all.”

The Herald recalls that the Kwara State Government officially started the KwaraLEARN initiative in public primary schools for all children across Kwara State in May 2022.

It is transforming government primary schools across the State into powerful public schools using innovative technology and a data-driven platform, coupled with high-quality learning materials, effective training and ongoing coaching for teachers and school leaders, and technologyenabled support teams to create 360degree support for learning outcomes

Kwara Governor Presents N189bn Appropriation Bill for 2023

1st December, 2022

Kwara State Governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq yesterday presented a N189,436,248,054 00 appropriation bill for 2023 to the State House of Assembly

The budget tagged, “Economic Expansion and Sustainable Development,”has recurrent expenditure of 49 1 per cent and the capital component of 50 9 per cent ”

Presenting the appropriation bill at the floor of the State House of Assembly, the state governor, Alhaji AbdulRazaq said, “the fiscal document focuses on strengthening the current gains and is built around the Kwara State Sustainable Development Plan 20212030, Medium Term Sector Strategy 2021-2023 and citizens’ need Assessments.”

He added: “Today, I stand before this Honourable House to present the 2023 appropriation bill This fiscal document is as significant in its provisions as it is in expanding the gains of the past three years for maximum socioeconomic benefits of the state

“With the support of this House and the good people of Kwara State, our government has delivered on key campaign promises in education, healthcare delivery, provision of potable water, agriculture, poverty reduction, gender mainstreaming, youth and women empowerment, financial inclusion, workers’ welfare, infrastructure, and rural urban development

“Under us, Kwara has shed horrible indices and broken new positive grounds across development sectors. This is all due to our commitments to inclusive growth.

“Of particular interest are the recent positive data on healthcare delivery, poverty rate, unemployment rate, and fiscal management of the state All of these show that Kwara is a lot better today than we met it ”

He added, “I’m glad to report that our investment in the premier hospital has earned the state university an accreditation to begin Medicine and Surgery for the first time

“In the outgoing fiscal year, we expanded economic opportunities for the people and executed many impactful projects and programmes across sectors, while many are near completion ”

He noted that, “The commencement of the KwaraLEARN initiative has raised school attendance by 43 per cent in four pilot local government areas of Baruten, Ilorin East, Ilorin West, and Offa.

“We have delivered a new waterworks at Dumagi, new and well-equipped Dental, Eye, Renal, ICU facilities, and an expansive new ward

“The Garment Factory, Visual Arts Centre, Innovation Hub, General Tunde Idiagbon Bridge, Osi-Obbo Aiyegunle Road, Adeta-YebumotAlHikmah University Road, Ilesha Gwanara Road, Osi and Ilesha Baruba Campuses of KWASU, Oro General Hospital, Jebba Waterworks, among others, are all near completion

“For the first time, we are 90 per cent set to deliver a game-changing Electronic Management System (EMS) for our hospitals in Ilorin, Kaiama, and Offa. We have also completed the first radio station in Kwara North and 39 Digital Literacy Centres across the state.”

The Governor said the new budget places more emphases on continuous infrastructural development, completion of ongoing road projects, agribusinesses, irrigation and mechanisation, workers’ welfare, rural electrification, and improved water reticulation, among others.

Chaired by the Speaker, Yakubu Salihu Danladi, the budget presentation session was attended by Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi; representative of the Chief Judge Justice Olalekan Adegbite; Acting Grand Kadi Justice Abdullateef Kamaldeen; among others

The Speaker commended the Governor for his efforts to steadily bridge the huge infrastructural gap in the state and for his focus on workers’ welfare, provision of basic amenities, and prudent management of public resources

He assured AbdulRazaq of the readiness of the House to ensure timely passage of the budget after proper scrutiny as constitutionally required for the benefit of the people of Kwara State.

KwaraLEARN showcased at Nigerian Economic Summit

21st November, 2022

Kwara State Education Programme, KwaraLEARN was showcased by NewGlobe Nigeria at the Nigerian Economic Summit (NES #28)

The Nigerian Economic Summit attracted national and global policymakers, business leaders, development partners, civil society leaders and scholars to articulate the development imperatives that satisfy the need for economic security and sustainability, social justice, conscientious governance, political stability and environmental sustainability

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed and other ministers as well as members of the private sector were participants at the summit

Group Managing Director NewGlobe, Omowale David-Ashiru, who was a panelist on the interactive session tagged: “Eradicating Learning Deprivation” alongside Ms Cristian Munduate UNICEF Country

Representative, Mrs. Maryam Uwais (MFR), Special Adviser to the President on Social Investments, Ms Abisola Obasanya Director Arc Lights Foundation and Dr. Hamid Bobboyi Executive Secretary

Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), discussed solving Nigeria’s learning deprived children rate of 70% according to UNICEF

Omowale said: “That learning deprivation or learning poverty is a global problem exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic in African countries like Nigeria where the combination of out-of-school children and the poor rate of learning for those in school gravely threaten the potential of future economic growth and social development ”

She went further to discuss potential solutions citing the June 2022 report by the World Bank, UNESCO, UNICEF FCDO, which shed light on proven solutions, prescribing focus areas for progress

It stressed the existence of solutions that can work at scale and within existing government systems to improve learning outcomes. It states that commitment to learning programs by governments and the composition of the programs: with emphasis on teacher training, improved instruction through structured pedagogy and measurement of learning outcomes

According to Omowale: “There are existing examples of a holistic methodology already delivering value for Nigerian children in Edo, Lagos and Kwara States

“There are three distinct examples in Nigeria running statewide intricate public-school systems built upon four core aspects: A digital learning platform, adaptive instructional content, teacher training and coaching, and 360-degree support Within this holistic system are many sets of practices, such as school management, learning and development, instructional guidance, and feedback Schools in this system are being transformed using technology and data, every school is transparent and accessible to its political leaders; decisions and policies are data-based and children are learning at a speed not seen before in Nigeria.

“This holistic learning methodology was the subject of a 2-year study led by 2019 Nobel Prize winning professor Michael Kremer. The Kremer Study finds that NewGlobe methods deliver unequivocal major learning gains across every academic year in NewGlobe-supported schools, compared with other schools

These are particularly large in the “key grades” for Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN), primary classes One and Two Kremer and his co-authors found that students in early childhood years supported by NewGlobe received the equivalent of an additional year and a half of learning in two years.

“Political leaders across the continent are coming to learn from Nigeria’s systems and then implementing them in their own countries These examples are Edo State through the EdoBEST program covering > 1000 nursery, primary and Junior Secondary schools, Lagos State through the EKOEXCEL program covering >1000 Nursery and primary schools and most recently Kwara State through the KwaraLEARN program covering more than >1500 public schools at the full implementation of the program

“The most recent which started this year, KwaraLEARN (Leading Education Achievement and Reform Now) is a core new education programme by the Government of Kwara State to deliver dramatic improvements in learning outcomes in public schools for all children across Kwara State.”

Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said: “Getting education right from the foundation would support the state government’s achievements in infrastructural development, agriculture, technology and social services, as well as open up new vistas of opportunities that will promote common good”

He further said, our flagship education programme takes the baton from preexisting transformation programmes in Lagos and Edo states, both of which are local solutions already delivering value We have understudied and have now made it fit for our own system here in Kwara State.

“The ‘Eradicating Learning Deprivation’ session at the #NES28 has delivered examples of an actionable framework for transformational leadership in education for Nigeria We have a sustainable and inclusive solution to learning poverty, a necessary imperative for transforming Nigeria’s human capital into national productive and innovative capacity that creates a secure collective future of prosperity for all and sustained economic development Nigeria must as a matter of priority articulate a framework to harness foundational literacy and numeracy for 2023 and beyond

“We have a chance to drive real change and deliver quality education for children in Nigeria ”

Omowale shared Kremer study learnings indicating Nigeria must invest beyond infrastructure alone, but also into foundational literacy and numeracy at basic education levels to eradicate learning poverty in Nigeria.

Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, Chief of Staff to the President while closing the summit commended participants and endorsed the outcomes of the summit which include the need for restoration, increased funding, standardization and innovation in public education as a means to delivering economic stability for growth This outcome among others will be contained in the NES28 “Green Book” a compendium of summit recommendations which will be disseminated to Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as other critical stakeholders to enable the implementation

Showcasing Nigeria’s Education Transformation Successes at Innovation Africa 2022

19th November, 2022

Major education projects, skills development and the upsurge in investments leveraging technology for education were the main focus of Africa’s number one high-level ministerial forum Innovation Africa from the 16th to 18th November 2022 in Lusaka Zambia This 10th anniversary edition of the summit was held under the patronage of the Government of the Republic of Zambia and led by the President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema

According to a statement Hundreds of Government Ministers and Officials are traveling across the continent to attend the summit including the following Nigerian officials Hon. Goodluck Opiah, Minister of State for Education, Hon. Dr. Sen. Adeleke Olorunnimbe Mamora, Minister of Science Technology and Innovation, Hon. Dr. Godwin E Amanke, Commissioner for Education, Cross River State and Hon Folashade Adefisayo, Commissioner for Education, Lagos State

The statement also noted that the highlevel Nigeria delegation along with counterparts from at least 24 other African countries engaged with other stakeholders on topics key to the education agenda of the summit

The statement further noted that among the topics covered at Innovation Africa was digital transformation across Africa’s education sector, teacher training, digital strategies for school leaders, technology innovation and solutions for improving school connectivity, curriculum reforms.

The statement further explained that the focus on education in this year’s event is pivotal to the learning poverty crisis currently faced in Africa and beyond, adding that a situation so serious it is a key focus of the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, particularly in the area of foundational learning, main theme of The Education Summit (TES), “ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2022 culminating in UNICEF leading a new Call To Action on education ”

The statement hinted that the Innovation Africa summit education rich agenda provides an opportunity for African countries to fulfill this call to action, which is key as the learning poverty has become even more pronounced in post pandemic Africa.

According to the statement, “Case in point, our Nigerian delegation is attending this conference against a backdrop of 18 5million out of school children in Nigeria according to UNICEF, a negative growth of 76% from UNICEF’s 2021 estimate of 10 5million The education situation is even more dire according to UNICEF education specialist Ahmed Sharouda because 70% of the children in school are not learning anything that will add value to them or the society creating a learning crisis in Nigeria This statement was made by Sharouda in a presentation at a two-day media dialogue on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Child Rights, organized by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, in collaboration with UNICEF, in Kano, in April 2022.

“The education situation is even more dire according to UNICEF education specialist Ahmed Sharouda because 70% of the children in school are not learning anything that will add value to them or the society creating a learning crisis in Nigeria This statement was made by Sharouda in a presentation at a two-day media dialogue on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Child Rights, organized by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, in collaboration with UNICEF, in Kano, in April 2022

“Nigeria is not alone in this situation, as a result of the worst shock to education and learning in recorded history, learning poverty has increased by a third in low- and middle-income countries, with an estimated 70% of 10-year-olds unable to understand a simple written text, according to a new report published by the World Bank, UNESCO, UNICEF, UK government Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), USAID, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

“This rate was 57% before the pandemic, but now the learning crisis has deepened This generation of students now risks losing $21 trillion in potential lifetime earnings in present value, or the equivalent of 17% of today’s global GDP, up from the $17 trillion estimated in 2021 This report, The State of Global Learning Poverty: 2022 Update also tasks countries on the need to concentrate their efforts on the most cost-effective approaches to tackle learning poverty.

ç“It states that these interventions must be implemented as part of a national learning recovery program that can also serve as a springboard for building more effective, equitable, and resilient education systems Dr Benjamin Piper, Director of Global Education, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was quoted as saying “ we have solutions that can work at scale and in government systems Committing to substantial learning recovery programs is a start, but the composition of those programs matter: measure learning outcomes, but also invest in improving instruction through structured pedagogy ”

“In Nigeria, based on these suggestions, there are bright glimmers of hope for effective scalable education transformation as seen in Lagos State’s EKOEXCEL, Edo State’s EdoBEST and Kwara’s KwaraLEARN, all with technical support from NewGlobe, Nigeria.

“The Governments of Nigeria’s Lagos, Kwara and Edo States have all committed to driving up standards and outcomes across their entire education systems, with measured gains in literacy and numeracy in weeks Their programs are supported by data-driven technology solutions in partnership with NewGlobe, a social enterprise which supports national and state governments by creating powerful technology-enabled education systems

“The EKOEXCEL program in Lagos State covers half a million students and all pre-primary and public primary schools. A recent evaluation found that an average primary three EKOEXCEL pupil was now reading at nearly the same fluency level as an average primary five pupil before the launch of the program in 2020, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

“The Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBEST) in Edo State is another example of Nigerian education reform, which is being watched closely by other Government leaders ”

Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki said: “We used standard tests to examine fluency, literacy and numerical skills at every age The outcomes, which are independently measured, showed that the children in EdoBEST now are learning at about 70% of the rate of their counterparts in Europe and Asia That same review of the average situation in Nigerian schools measured them at about 30 percent So while the average Nigerian is 30 percent, Edo State is at 70%.”

The statement said EdoBEST is supported by the World Bank, the only subnational education program in Africa to be part of the World Bank’s Accelerator Program. World Bank Education Director Jaime Saavedra said “We believe that Edo State can set a great example for other states in Nigeria and even other countries That is why Edo is part of the World Bank/UNICEF Accelerator Program ”

The statement added that the KwaraLEARN programme is the third statewide Nigerian education reform programme being showcased at the Education World Forum Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq said: “This is in the realization that getting education right from the foundation will support our achievements in infrastructural development, agriculture, technology, and social services, and open up new vistas of opportunities that will promote the common good.”

“Continuing, the statement said: “All three programmes empower every teacher with digital tools to deliver expertly planned lessons based on the local national curriculum

“The combination of structured pedagogy with the gathering of realtime data for accountability and feedback, is one recommended by the World Bank, as governments everywhere deal with the impact of the covid-19 pandemic, and the school closures which accompanied it, on children’s education

“This holistic learning methodology was the subject of a 2-year study led by 2019 Nobel Prize winning professor Michael Kremer. The Kremer Study finds that NewGlobe methods deliver unequivocal major learning gains across every academic year in NewGlobe-supported schools, compared with other schools. These are particularly large in the “key grades” for Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN), primary classes One and Two Kremer and his co-authors found that students in early childhood years supported by NewGlobe received the equivalent of an additional year and a half of learning in two years “Programming supported by NewGlobe in Nigeria has previously been studied by Oxford University and the Department for International Development and revealed equity of learning It contradicts decades of global education research that asserts family background matters more than the school a child attends, in relation to levels of learning Education scholars estimate education reforms resulting in a 25-point gain on Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) (0.25 standard deviation) will increase the GDP growth rate by 0.5% annually in middle-income countries. Lagos, Edo and Kwara can expect the same outcome Hopefully the whole of Nigeria can too, if this is also implemented at Federal level ”

More Parents Enrol Children In Kwara Public Schools

11th November, 2022

The enrolment of pupils into public schools in Kwara State has increased astronomically.

LEADERSHIP’s findings showed that more parents, especially in four local government areas- Ilorin West, Ilorin East, Baruten and Offa are enrolling their children in public schools, especially at the basic education level

For instance, the LGEA Primary School, Pakata, Ilorin with barely 3000 pupils in the 2021 academic session is now having 5,217 pupils in the current academic session

This development, LEADERSHIP gathered is as a result of the thorough recruitment of about 5,000 teachers for the basic public schools in core subject areas in the state and the introduction of KwaraLEARN- a novel teaching/ learning process

KwaraLEARN which has commenced in four local government areas in its first phase has increased the enrolment of pupils in public schools.

The scheme has improved the quality of teaching with the use of technology and automated solutions in public schools

Under the programme, teachers have been given gadgets to aid their teaching and this has made absenteeism by the teachers and skipping of lessons impossible.

Confirming the development, the chairman of Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board ( SUBEB), Prof Shehu Adaramaja said, “The huge investment in basic education by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is responsible for increase in schools’ enrolment ”

Adaramaja added, “Enrolment into our schools during the current academic session (2022/2023) has skyrocketed For example, LGEA Primary School, Pakata Ilorin, with barely 3000 pupils in the previous academic years, is now having 5,217 pupils The huge investment in basic education by His Excellency, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is responsible for increase in schools’ enrolment.

“The fact that Kwara public schools are doing well in quiz and debate championships at national and international levels is a significant factor responsible for huge enrolment in our basic schools

The introduction of KwaraLEARN, distribution of free textbooks in core subject areas of Mathematics, English Language, Basic Science and Technology for pupils in primary 4-6; recruitment of qualified teachers including recruitment of 51 first class honours graduates into our workforce, regular payment of SUBEB workers’ salaries and implementation of promotion arrears of 2017 to 2019 – all contributed significantly to exemplary performances of our teachers cumulatively attracting more pupils into our schools

“Special gratitude to our Governor, His Excellency, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Executive Governor of Kwara State for his support and superlative interest in basic education History has it that his huge investment in basic education is the largest ever since the creation of Kwara State in 1967 ”

How KwaraLEARN prioritises Education of the Girl Child

12th October, 2022

In Nigeria, like many other Sub-Saharan African countries, girls continue to face numerous challenges that limit their access to quality education. This was worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic which saw a disruption in learning for children and compounded the already existing barriers to girls’ education According to a 2022 report by UNICEF, there are currently about 18 5 million out-of-school children in Nigeria, and 60% of the 18 million out-of-school children in Nigeria are girls

This is important because as was said by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell at the Transforming Education Summit in her remarks titled –Advancing Gender Equality Through Education “When girls and women have an equal opportunity to learn – and when education supports gender equality for all – communities and societies prosper.” That is why the theme of this year’s 2022 United Nations International Day of the Girl Child is “Our Time is Now – Our Rights, Our Future”.

The excerpt and theme above are as apt for Nigeria as anywhere else with our legacy cultural lack of importance placed on girl child education exacerbated by socio-economic challenges, solutions for which are underpinned by one critical element – education

KwaraLEARN (Leading Education Achievement and Reform Now), an initiative of the government of Kwara state to deliver dramatic improvements in learning outcomes in public schools for children across Kwara State is empowering children, including the girl child to thrive and lead growth and development in the state KwaraLEARN delivers training and ongoing coaching to school teachers and leaders to enable them to deliver quality lessons to pupils.

The learning methods underpinning KwaraLEARN, have been independently studied by an academic team led by Professor Michael Kremer, the Nobel Prize-winning economist

Their results found learning gains “among the largest in the international education literature,” with primary students taught using the methods utilised in KwaraLEARN gained nearly a year of learning ahead of their counterparts in other schools after just two years

Crucially, the learning gains were equally large for girls and boys The findings contrast with established research which shows girls in Sub-Saharan Africa are consistently disadvantaged in learning, with lower literacy rates than boys even when both have the same educational attainment.

Governor Abdulrazak’s support for transformative education through the KwaraLEARN program uses an approach that has gender parity built into its design

Gender-sensitive school management includes ensuring that girls are given school leadership roles and equal learning opportunities as boys

Among other things, the holistic technology driven methods used in KwaraLEARN ensures that teachers and school leaders are trained to check on each and every pupil’s work during lesson delivery to ensure that no child is left behind, regardless of their gender

All pupils are encouraged to participate equally – teachers are trained to call on both boys and girls in the classroom As fewer girls than boys usually volunteer, teachers are trained to practise more cold calling to ensure equal participation

Through KwaraLEARN enrollment drives, we are able to engage with parents and communities and raise awareness on the importance of girl child education.

This has seen an increase in the enrolment of out-of-school children into our government schools, especially in hard-to-reach and low-income communities as low-income households can now send both their boy and girl children to school and still be guaranteed a globally competitive education Since its launch, the KwaraLEARN team has successfully enrolled 53,661 children into all our government schools across Ilorin East, Ilorin West, Baruten and Offa LGAs

Out of these 53,661 newly enrolled students, 25, 282 of them are girls, who have now been provided with the opportunity of a holistic education that will contribute to their development and success in life

With the use of technology and innovative teaching methodology, girls and boys in KwaraLEARN schools are provided with a globally competitive and transformative education, empowered with the skills that set them on the path to achieving their dreams.

Careful emphasis is placed on the monitoring of our pupils’ attendance performance among other indicators using technology This way, the team effectively tracks pupil’s attendance, with girls’ attendance especially closely monitored to ensure no girl drops out of school unnoticed

Once irregularity in girls’ attendance and performance across other indicators are noticed, the team is trained to swiftly intervene and address any challenges they might be facing and resolve them as quickly as possible

The goal is to ensure that pupils, especially girls, stay in school and receive quality education that will enable them to thrive and develop wholly through the dramatic improvement in learning outcome that KwaraLEARN delivers.

To ensure girls’ safety and reduce gender-based violence in school, KwaraLEARN schools have a strict zero-tolerance policy for child abuse Corporal punishment is prohibited in all KwaraLEARN schools, instead, students are motivated to work hard and stay focused through the use of positive behavioural management

KwaraLEARN teachers and headteachers have been equipped to create a safe, enabling, and enjoyable school environment for children where they are happy to come and learn and develop their creative abilities, confidence, self-esteem, and core skills

Girls are now protected from any form of abuse, ranging from sexual, emotional, or physical abuse in school, and teachers have been trained to identify and properly report any of such cases There is also ongoing child safeguarding and protection training for teachers and school leaders.

As we celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child today, KwaraLEARN is recommitting to empower the girl child in Kwara State and continue to deliver dramatic improvements in learning outcomes in government schools for all children across Kwara State

We also call on all other governments, policymakers and education stakeholders in Nigeria to invest in the future of the girl child and provide her with the opportunities and knowledge she needs to succeed in a digital age, be heard and seen

Buhari’s Transforming Education Summit Address and KwaraLEARN Education Transformation Project

27th September, 2022

The Transforming Education Summit (TES) spent three days addressing the depth and breadth of problems afflicting learning around the world.

Government leaders and educationists from across the world are convening in New York for the United Nations (UN) inaugural Transforming Education Summit The summit is a response to the global learning crisis, and is focused on identifying education transformation programmes proven to work at scale

This learning crisis began long before the covid-19 pandemic and runs much deeper The report card from the International Commission on the Future of Education puts it clearly; education systems don’t make the grade They are failing students and societies We will not end this crisis by simply doing more of the same, faster or better. Now is the time to transform education systems.

According to the World Bank, 7 out of 10 children in Low and Middle Income Countries cannot read with comprehension by their tenth birthday. In other words, they are functionally illiterate, this after decades of declarations and initiatives by the global education community to improve the quality of basic education These attempts to “fix” the architecture have yet to demonstrate meaningful success: learning levels are persistently low, and positive deviants hard to find

President Muhammadu Buhari addressed the “Transforming Education Summit “ , during which he proclaimed Nigeria as a champion country and committed to greater inclusiveness and innovation for education in the country

Nigeria has a lot to contribute to other global leaders, funders, policymakers and political leaders focus on identifying solutions that are already being

implemented at scale by national Governments and are proven to improve learning outcomes

The latest large scale education transformation project that should qualify Nigeria as a “Champion Country” in President Buhari’s words is KwaraLEARN (Leading Education Achievement and Reform Now), a core new education programme by the Government of Kwara State to deliver dramatic improvements in learning outcomes in public schools for all children across Kwara State

KwaraLEARN is transforming government primary schools across the state into powerful public schools using an innovative technology and data-driven platform, coupled with high-quality learning materials, effective training and ongoing coaching for teachers and school leaders, and technology-enabled support teams to create 360-degree support for learning outcomes

His Excellency, the executive governor of Kwara State, Mal AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq who was also present at the UNGA in New York as part of President Buhari’s entourage, had this to say about the program “getting education right from the foundation would support the state government’s achievements in infrastructural development, agriculture, technology and social services, as well as open up new vistas of opportunities that will promote common good”

It is important to note that the methodology implemented in KwaraLEARN was studied by a group led by Professor Michael Kremer, the Nobel Prize-winning economist, in a different school system to measure impact over a 2 year period Professor Kremer’s study found that “The effects in this study are among the largest in the international education literature, particularly for a program that was already operating at scale”

Primary students taught using this methodology learnt as much in two years as their counterparts in other schools learnt in three

KwaraLEARN takes the baton from preexisting transformation programmes in Lagos and Edo states, both of which are local solutions already delivering value. At the conclusion of the Transformational Education Summit, the UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres was clear. Now is the time to transform the entire public education system Trailblazing political leaders across the world such as Kwara State are showing how it can be done, using proven learning methods If the world is going to come close to achieving the goals of the Transforming Education Summit, others must follow their example

Nigeria must push at federal level for policy, budget and implementation to enable large scale transformative education projects such as KwaraLEARN which is already creating value and alleviating learning poverty in the country

UN Education Summit: How Nigeria can end the learning crisis in schools

20th September, 2022

Heads of State and education sector thought leaders converged in New York City for the inaugural edition of the United Nations (UN) Transforming Education Summit with one goal: Crowdsourcing ideas towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) by 2030.

SDG 4 is central not only because it focuses on education but because it is relevant to all the other goals It aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promotion of lifelong learning for all

Although the UN states that measurable progress has been made towards increasing access to education and school enrollment at all levels, particularly for girls, the figures for outof-school children continues to snowball as 244 million children and youth between the ages of 6 and 18 worldwide are still out of school, according to UNESCO in 2022

Curiously, India, Nigeria and Pakistan account for the greater number of outof-school children with Nigeria alone accounts for 20 million, based on UNESCO figures.

A 2022 report jointly published by the World Bank, UNESCO, UNICEF, UK government Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), USAID, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation paints a bleak picture regarding the possibility of achieving quality education for countries in Western Africa

Highlighting the precarious situation of education, the report notes that learning poverty has increased by a third in low and middle-income countries, with an estimated 70 per cent of 10-year-olds unable to read or understand a simple written text

State governments and the Federal Government in Nigeria need to pay greater attention to the dire situation of education because education indices in the country have not lived up to

expectation Indeed, state actors in Nigeria should pay greater attention to the outcome of the Transforming Education Summit and indeed focus on domesticating methodologies, procedures and strategies that have delivered improved learning at scale.

Already, a number of Nigerian state governments are leading the way in this direction. Education sector transformation programmes like EdoBEST (in Edo state), EKOEXCEL (in Lagos State) and KwaraLEARN (in Kwara state) have changed the face of education in Nigeria by delivering superior learning outcomes to children in hard-to-reach and urban areas while improving the capacity of teachers to impart knowledge

The methodology underpinning these education transformation programmes has been proven to deliver transformational change, especially to children in early formative years in basic schools Focusing on systems strengthening, the inclusion of all stakeholders in the education system

and using data as the basis for improving learning, the programmes have recorded an increase in literacy and numeracy skills

Their positive impact is further buttressed by a new but major study conducted by Nobel Prize Winner and development economist, Prof Michael Kremer in Kenya

The study suggests that children living in underserved communities in Kenya and attending NewGlobe-supported schools (which use the same methodology as EdoBEST, EKOEXCEL and KwaraLEARN), receive 53 per cent more learning throughout their early childhood and primary school careers than children taught with traditional methodologies.

Kremer says

This study shows that attending schools delivering highly standardised education has the potential to produce dramatic learning gains at scale, suggesting that policymakers may wish to explore incorporation of standardisation, including standardised lesson plans and teacher feedback and monitoring, in their own systems.”

In his analysis, Kremer posited that combining a standardised curriculum, positive reinforcements and teacher professionalism has led to improved learning outcomes in children attending NewGlobe-supported schools.

What is unique is that the use of the methodology delivers the same learning outcomes to both boys and girls allowing for equal learning opportunities for both genders as girls were found to make learning leaps similar to their male counterparts

While leaders at the UN education summit focus on identifying education transformation solutions, it is beneficial to deliberate on home-grown solutions that can work at scale and in state-owned systems as exemplified by EdoBEST, EKOEXCEL and KwaraLEARN

These solutions are rich in local knowhow and accommodate the peculiarities of the various environments where they have been implemented

In the case of EdoBEST for instance, before the inception of the programme, absenteeism among teachers was high, lesson completion rate was low and learning outcomes were abysmal. The EdoBEST programme addressed these deficiencies using technology that incorporated the nuances of the local environment.

The Universal Basic Education Commission, State SUBEBs and state ministries of education need to look critically at harnessing the benefits that have been derived by states using the methodology that has been endorsed by Professor Kremer and his team Governments should adopt an inclusive system where all stakeholders are connected with one goal in mind –delivering quality life-changing education Operating a unified system, the data obtained can be used as a basis for improved learning

As the Transformational Education Summit is concluded in New York, the words of the UN Secretary-General António Guterres are instructive. In his opening address, Mr. Guterres noted that “instead of being the great enabler, education is fast becoming a great divider.” This does not have to be the case. Nigeria’s leaders can step in to address the core issues using proven solutions

Teachers hail AbdulRazaq

15th September, 2022

Heads of secondary schools in Kwara State yesterday said Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s achievements in turning around learning environment and improving welfare of teachers are unmatched in the recent history of the state

The teachers also commended the introduction of KwaraLEARN which they said is truly impactful, adding that the administration’s interventions have also been spread across every part of the state in a way never seen before

The school heads made the commendations in Ilorin, the state capital, at an open engagement the Governor held to feel their pulse on government’s focus on basic education and their welfare across board. About 300 school principals attended the meeting, along with some key stakeholders from across the education sector in Kwara State

The teachers, who acknowledged the improvements in their wages and teaching environment, also called on the Governor to consider restoring boarding facilities which died off a few years ago, end the pay disparities between teachers in basic classes and their senior secondary school counterparts which he inherited, commit more funds to laboratories in the schools, and do more to offset the arrears of salaries he met in 2019 For instance, Principal of Ilorin Grammar School, Hajia Abdullahi Muslimat Iyabo, said the school was one of the schools which benefited from comprehensive renovation of schools under Governor AbdulRazaq’s administration.

“Our school benefitted from not just a few renovations but total renovation of the school On behalf of the management of Ilorin Grammar School, we want to say thank you I also want to express our gratitude to you for the sense of humility and commitment to the welfare of the teachers and students. I want to also sincerely appreciate your efforts at ensuring that teachers are promoted, and we want you to keep this up,” she said

Principal of Community Junior Secondary School Ipetu-Igbomina in Irepodun Local Government, Mr Babatunde Josuah Adegboyega, said the administration has given a befitting facelift to schools while doing its best to promote welfare

“I want to appreciate your good gesture for the promotion implemented, the welfare packages on salaries as well as changing the facelift of schools through renovation God will continue to be your guide”, Adegboyega said

Principal, Queen Elizabeth Senior Secondary School Ilorin, Sidikat Taye Lawal, commended AbdulRazaq for his prompt interventions on issues affecting the school.

“On behalf of the old students of Queen Elizabeth School of which I am one of them thank you for transforming Queen Elizabeth School to a modern secondary school through the road network We want to appreciate you again for your care and love for the students on exchange programme because I remember last year I was in Minna, Niger State for the Conference of Principals of Exchange Schools and Kwara State was ranked the best in the programme,” she said

“We were able to interact with principals from other states and learnt how some had to borrow money to feed their students But in the case of Kwara, we get money to feed these students as and when due and you transport them at the right time, not leaving them for their parents to send transportation fees Thank you very much sir ”

Mrs Jimoh C S of Junior Secondary School Awonga, Shao in Moro Local Government, said the condition of the school was in a sorry state before 2019

“l want to appreciate Your Excellency, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for the changes you have made in education sector. In the time past in my former school, Government Junior Secondary School, Bode Saadu, the school was in bad state, I don’t even know how to describe the school, all the structures there had been destroyed,” she recalled

“l used to go to SUBEB almost everyday to beg for renovation of the school but nothing was done There was a time the man told me that the school is one of the schools to be renovated but nothing happened But when our Excellency got there, both new construction and renovation were done in the school ”

The Principal of Senior Secondary School Kanko, Shonga District in Edu Local Government, Umar Abubakar, said the trajectory of basic education has changed for good since the Governor came.

Another principal from Islamiyah College Patigi, Balla Sa’ad, described AbdulRazaq as a workaholic governor, who has committed so much resources to improve basic education

“He is a people’s Governor and a friendly Governor In fact, in my local government, the slogan now is everywhere you go, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s good works are there”, he said

The school principals advocated recruitment of more science and languages teachers as well as nonteaching staff, provision of more textbooks in core subjects, in-service training for teachers, improved security network of schools.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Mrs Mary Adeosun, said the governor has been exemplary in his commitment to education which she said mirrors his passion for the future of the state

Daramaja blamed the longstanding disparity in pay between SUBEB and TESCOM teachers on four factors, out of which two have now been resolved He listed the factors to be overdeduction of NUT and National Housing Scheme (NHS) dues both of which have now been addressed and reflected in the teachers’ salaries stoppage of step upgrades for SUBEB teachers since 2016, and nonpayment of allowances due to teachers with TRCN He said these challenges will also be resolved, but called for patience and understanding of the teachers.

Adaramaja also said pending promotion arrears would soon be implemented, recalling that the administration had similarly fixed some of the promotion arrears it inherited without any political colouration

The SUBEB boss said training and retraining of teachers has been paramount to the administration, especially with the renewed cordial relationship between UBEC and SUBEB

AbdulRazaq, on his part, acknowledged all the issues raised by the teachers and said the administration remains committed to total turnaround of the education sector so that Kwara can reclaim its place in the north and Nigeria as a whole

“We have introduced KwaraLEARN programme and I thank you all for embracing the programme. That’s one of the paths to bringing Kwara back on top in Northern Nigeria and the rest of the country

The investment the government and you are making today may not show immediately but it is something that will speak for all of us later in the future.

What you are doing is to produce responsible citizens for Nigeria and the world, and we are grateful for that,” he said “I have listened carefully to all the issues of promotions, leave bonuses, uniforms in schools, non-academic staff employment, textbooks, harmonisation between TESCOM and SUBEB salary, in-service trainings, seminars, security in schools, unity schools and exchange students within the state, equipping laboratories in our schools, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities in schools, backlog of salaries, girl-child education, encroachment of school properties and building of shops in front schools.

These were part of the issues raised today and we will dissect them and take them one after the other.”

Kwara: Governor Rolls Out The 1st Phase KwaraLEARN

18th

May, 2022

The Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, has reiterated that the kernel of his electoral campaign to the people of the state is to restore the dignity of the people, redeem the lost glory of the state on all fronts, ensure inclusive growth, and reposition the state for greatness and competitiveness

This is as the governor said that at the heart of this is to enthrone quality education and human capital development, as a critical area for inclusive growth and upward social mobility in the knowledge economy

Towards this end, he noted that delivering on this score, his administration has gotten the state off the UBEC blacklist and freed the state’s schools from WAEC sanctions, and progressively committing huge resources to rebuilding basic schools, as well as injecting new 4,700 competent teachers into the classrooms.

As part of major steps taken to transform the state’s education sector, Governor AbdulRazaq hinted that this week the state government would roll out the first phase of its administration’s flagship education transformative programme: Kwara Leading Education Achievement and Reform Now, tagged: KwaraLEARN

According to him, the realisation of getting education right from the foundation would support the state government’s achievements in infrastructural development, agriculture, technology and social services, as well as open up new vistas of opportunities that will promote common good

“Our flagship education programme takes the baton from pre-existing transformation programmes in Lagos and Edo states, both of which are local solutions already delivering value We have understudied and have now made it fit for our own system here in Kwara State,” the governor said

He added: “KwaraLEARN represents our vision for a stronger and more prosperous Kwara A Kwara that is recognised in Nigeria and across West Africa as a leader in reforms that will deliver economic growth and more sustainable futures for our population KwaraLEARN will transform all government primary schools across the state into powerful public schools, moving them from an analogue approach to one of digital transformation.

“This transformational approach to our education system will deliver radically improved outcomes for our children That success will be seen quickly, giving this generation of children the potential to transform Kwara State

“This is a lifetime investment that empowers teachers and gives public school pupils the best shot at 21st Century education with reverberating effects on learning outcomes and the future of the state The KwaraLEARN programme affords our teachers the right digital tools to be at their best, while providing an electronic platform to make classrooms and schools transparent The technology will monitor attendance and performance of pupils and teachers in all classrooms, offering continual support and feedback ”

Governor AbdulRazaq, who pointed out that as a new term begins, we are not just discussing how to improve our schools and classrooms; we are implementing new approaches and techniques. While stressing that 3,500 teachers had been trained in the last few weeks in the use of new digital technology and proven pedagogical techniques designed to support them in delivering the best possible lessons to their students, he assured stakeholders that thousands more teachers are to be trained in the subsequent phase of the programme

KwaraLEARN, a classroom revolution

16th

May 2022

The kernel of our electoral campaign to the people of Kwara State is to restore the dignity of the Kwara person, redeem the lost glory of the state on all fronts, ensure inclusive growth, and reposition it for greatness and competitiveness in Nigeria. At the heart of this campaign is quality education and human capital development an area that is critical for inclusive growth and upward social mobility in the knowledge economy

We are clearly delivering on this score In addition to getting our state off national (UBEC) blacklist and freeing our schools from WAEC sanctions, progressively committing huge resources to rebuilding basic schools, as well as injecting new 4,700 competent teachers into our classrooms, this week we are rolling out the first phase of our flagship education transformative programme: Kwara Leading Education Achievement and Reform Now, or KwaraLEARN.

This is in realisation that getting education right from the foundation will support our achievements in infrastructural development, agriculture, technology and social services, and open up new vistas of opportunities that will promote common good

Our flagship education programme takes the baton from pre-existing transformation programmes in Lagos and Edo States, both of which are local solutions already delivering value We have understudied and have now made it fit for our own system here in Kwara

This is a lifetime investment that empowers teachers and gives public school pupils the best shot at 21st century education with reverberating effects on learning outcomes and the future of the state The KwaraLEARN programme affords our teachers the right digital tools to be at their best, while providing an electronic platform to make classrooms and schools transparent The technology will monitor attendance and performance of pupils and teachers in all classrooms, offering continual support and feedback

As a new term begins, we are not just discussing how to improve our schools and classrooms, we are implementing new approaches and techniques. We are taking action.

We are taking the future of our state and shaping it with a carefully designed policy which places Kwara as an innovation capital in Nigeria and West Africa’s economic growth

Over the last few weeks, 3,500 of our teachers have been trained in the use of new digital technology and proven pedagogical techniques designed to support them in delivering the best possible lessons to their students Thousands more will be trained in the subsequent phase of the programme

Our aim is to transform every government primary school and, in doing so, transform the learning outcomes for every Kwara child

To do this, we are empowering all our primary teachers with the right digital tools to be at their very best in the delivery of expertly planned lessons based on our national curriculum. This is supported with an electronic platform to make classrooms and schools transparent.

The technology will monitor attendance and performance of pupils and teachers in every classroom, offering continual real-time support and feedback Bespoke coaching programmes will support every teacher in their classroom KwaraLEARN

helps our teachers to become highlyskilled, through training and motivation to succeed at their job And it will provide Kwara’s learning leaders, our State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), with unprecedented levels of knowledge and information about the success of every single state primary school.

This approach, combining structured pedagogy with the gathering of realtime data for accountability and feedback, is one recommended by the World Bank, as governments everywhere deal with the impact of the covid-19 pandemic, and the school closures which accompanied it, on children’s education

In Nigeria, we know that transformational reform cannot be delayed A recent UNICEF assessment suggested that 70% of 10-year-olds across the country cannot understand a simple sentence or manage basic numeracy

This has been worsened in Nigeria and elsewhere by Covid-19 which caused huge damage to our education system and our communities As we in Kwara emerge from the pandemic, my team and I are taking action to ‘build back better’ We envision a state that policymakers refer to as a successful model of education reform postpandemic.

We are therefore determined to deliver dramatic improvements in learning outcomes for our children across Kwara State. Not only is access to quality education their right, improving their numeracy and literacy skills will allow our pupils to compete with their peers anywhere in the world

We believe that the path to prosperity is through the education of the Kwara child Along with our phenomenal investments in physical infrastructure and other things, education underpins economic growth, stability, and sustainable development

We are confident that the KwaraLEARN programme will be an outstanding success and birth measurable improvements in learning outcomes delivered quickly.

Our technical partners, NewGlobe, have already delivered them in support of similar programmes in Edo and Lagos States, and we trust them to do a lot more to partner with other stakeholders towards returning basic education in Kwara State to the dream of our founding fathers

UNESCO’s New Social Contract for Education calls on governments to focus on “placing greater emphasis on improving learning outcomes in our education systems, and employing new techniques and methodologies that have been proven to yield better results for our students”

This is precisely what we are doing through KwaraLEARN We are adopting an approach proven in the Global South, and more importantly within Nigeria, suited to our unique circumstances, away from a historical focus on the replication of ideas and institutions from the industrialised North

KwaraLEARN represents our vision for a stronger and more prosperous Kwara A Kwara that is recognised in Nigeria and across West Africa as a leader in reforms that will deliver economic growth and more sustainable futures for our population.

KwaraLEARN will transform all government primary schools across the state into powerful public schools, moving them from an analogue approach to one of digital transformation

This transformational approach to our education system will deliver radically improved outcomes for our children That success will be seen quickly, giving this generation of children the potential to transform Kwara State

Kwara teachers to get tablets, smartphones for education programme

3rd May 2022

Kwara State Government said that it has secured the delivery of 4,329 tablets and smartphones for teachers to implement the KwaraLEARN education programme

Other requirements for the programme such as procurement of 250 blackboards, hiring of IT operation teams, setting up of teachers’ tablets and, validation of tech applications in schools has also been put in place

The Chairman of the State Universal Primary Education Board, Sheu Adaramaja, said that the government would on May 16, 2022 kick-start its data-driven education transformation project, KwaraLEARN, across 365 primary schools in the state

According to a statement signed by Rafiu Ajakaye, Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Adaramaja said that the programme would commence across 365 primary schools in Baruten, Offa, Ilorin East, and Ilorin West Local Government Areas of the state

The KwaraLEARN intervention by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration is a public education transformation programme to improve teaching and learning using innovative technology, data-driven platforms, high-quality learning materials, effective training and continuous coaching and support for teachers and school administrators

KwaraLEARN could not have come at a better time, given the challenges education is facing in Nigeria as captured by a United Nations Children’s Fund report delivered during a recent programme.”

“Starting with governance, the Kwara State Ministry of Education, KwaraSUBEB and our technical partner, NewGlobe, developed a project communication and coordination plan to guide the management of the programme

“Stakeholder sensitisation campaigns have also happened in the four pilot local governments, with meetings held with traditional rulers, education trade union representatives and Education Secretaries, among others

“Today, KwaraLEARN has completed academic field studies in randomly selected schools to learn about teachers’ English fluency and proficiency, pupil oral reading fluency, and foundational numeracy,” he added.

Adaramaja explained that the process employed by KwaraLEARN has been systematic and scientific to achieve the desired learning outcomes.

He said the decision to start the project was sequel to the critical achievements the State has earlier recorded in academics, governance, stakeholder engagements, operations, school inspection, technology, job creation, leadership and development

AbdulRazaq excited as 1,920 teachers undergo KwaraLEARN training

28th April 2022

Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has expressed satisfaction at the performance of teachers undergoing a two-week training as part of the preparations to commence the KwaraLEARN basic education project in the State

The flagship education programme of the administration, KwaraLEARN (Leading Education Achievement and Reform Now) is designed to deliver dramatic improvements in learning outcomes in public schools for all children across Kwara State

It will transform all government primary schools across the state into powerful public schools using an innovative technology and data-driven platform, high-quality learning materials, effective training and ongoing coaching for teachers and school leaders, and technology-enabled support teams to create 360-degree support for learning outcomes.

The pilot phase of the programme captures basic schools in Baruten, Offa, Ilorin West, and Ilorin East –while other local governments will follow in the coming year

Speaking in Ilorin at the venue of the training for teachers, Abdulrazaq said the programme would drastically improve the capacity of teachers, encourage transparency in the school environment, and improve quality of public education and learning outcomes

“I congratulate you all because the process you are going through will be of benefit to all of us in the state, in Nigeria and to humanity The knowledge to be imparted will improve our society,” he said

AbdulRazaq, who acknowledged the important roles that teachers play in shaping the future of any nation, said his administration will consider more incentives to boost their morale in schools

“For me, I respect all of you for what you do They say the teachers’ reward is in heaven We also need to take care of you while alive The state government, as much as possible, will try to look into your welfare It is important because your livelihood solely depends on teaching You don’t joke with your salary That is why we made the N30,000 minimum wage for workers our priority,” he added

The Governor also visited Kwara students who recently emerged as Nigerian champions in the Presidential debate in their training camp ahead of the world schools debate in the Netherlands in August.

Chairman Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Prof. Raheem Sheu Adaramaja, said the training is in phases, starting from two local governments of Ilorin West and Baruten, with the selected head teachers and classroom teachers as participants under the first phase

He said the technology-based training will teach them how to use smart phones and tablets to monitor attendance, assess pupils, grade and transmit their results to their parents after school exams

“From the tablet you give everyone of them, they will be able to take class attendance of pupils, do assessment, grade them and transmit their results to their parents, rather than relying on the old PPT (Paper Pen Test) to achieve assessment of pupils,” Adaramaja said

Adarmaja also said the Board had engaged the services of experts, particularly native speakers of English language, in equipping the pupils ahead of the international debate competition

Mrs. Margaret Olufunke Awotunde, SUBEB Training officer, said at least 1,920 participants from four local governments (Ilorin West, East, Offa and Baruten) are expected to attend the ongoing phase of the training.

Some of the teachers who spoke on the training commended the state government for the initiative, which they believed would lessen their task of writing through paper and pen and conform to 21st century realities

Govt,educationstakeholdersurgedtoadopt inclusivelearningapproachforbetteroutcomes

15th March 2022

The government and other stakeholders in the education sector in Nigeria have been urged to embrace a more inclusive learning approach in the implementation of education technology-driven initiatives to achieve better learning outcomes and results

This was the summation from the just-concluded edition of the EdTech Initiative put together by Mastercard Foundation, in partnership with CcHub Limited. The virtual roundtable featured panelists such as cofounder/strategy and head, Maevis Computer Limited, Chizaram Ucheaga, certified English Language teacher from Lagos State, Bisayo Adewole, and the moderator, Joyce Daniel, a social engineer

At the virtual roundtable, titled “Education in the pandemic era, the role of technology,” Ucheaga emphasized the need for government and stakeholders to embrace more inclusive learning to create a robust and well-rounded educational system

Ucheaga stressed that, with the shift to infrastructure-based technology to drive learning during the COVID-19 pandemic,

government needs to continue to leverage technology in reinventing the education system in Nigeria

According to him, the responsibility lies with stakeholders, particularly the government, to design a curriculum that addresses every student’s needs, irrespective of their challenge or status

“During the pandemic, education stakeholders launched online radio initiatives to ensure that students continued to learn. As a result, the government now appreciates how technology is being used in driving learning They have then launched initiatives such as the EdoBest and Kwara-learn, in partnership with international organisations, to deliver learning to students "

He further stated that stakeholders must come to terms with the reality that education or learning was fast moving away from the conventional approach of the physical classroom structure to the virtual classroom, clamoring for the need to build holistic education solutions that would serve students, depending on their needs

Also speaking, Adewole, an EdTech teacher from Akoko High School, Lagos, noted that people’s minds were open to the benefits of technology in driving learning despite the pandemic. She, however, stated that more still needs to be done to ensure that both teachers and students have access to digital tools and training to achieve optimal learning outcomes

KwaraToEnrollOut-of-SchoolChildren

14th March 2022

The Kwara State government has concluded arrangements to enroll out-of-school children in schools across the state

The state’s Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajiya Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, who made disclosure, said this was necessary in order to secure the future of the children.

She said the state government will not leave any stone unturned in its efforts to remove children of school age from streets and reduce the number of out-ofschool children to the minimum.

Modibbo-Kawu explained that the ‘Kwara Learn Programme’ has been introduced to turn around teaching and learning in public schools and make it attractive.

The commissioner noted that parents in communities identified with large number of out-of-school children will be carried along in designing method of education that will suit the needs of their children and wards.

She added that the state government has renovated over 600 schools across the state to ensure a conducive teaching and learning environment.

of Ilorin commends Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s KwaraLEARN Program

Hajia Modibbo reiterated the commitment of the present administration in providing sound and quality education that will give our future leaders a chance in life and also allow them to be useful for themselves and the society

KwaraLEARN (Leading Education Achievement and Reform Now) is the digitization of teaching and learning to foster learning outcomes in public schools The programme has a vision to “transform all Government Primary Schools across the state through Innovative Technology, DataDriven Platforms, High-Quality Learning Materials, effective Training and Coaching for Teachers and School Leaders”.

28th February 2022

Kwara State government has again been commended for its laudable projects across the state, especially the recent introduction of digitization in public primary schools across the state

The Emir of Ilorin, Dr Ibrahim Zulu-Gambari made the commendation during KwaraLEARN stakeholders’ sensitization led by the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu to the Emir’s palace. According to him, “Education is the best legacy a country can give to her future leaders for them to be useful for themselves and the society

Let me use this medium to commend the good initiative of His Excellency, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on educational development in the state."

The highly revered monarch noted that the digitalization of public schools will go a long way in increasing the quality and standard of education in the state and also allow them to compete with their mates across the world He prayed for the success of the program

Earlier, the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu had appreciated the Emir of Ilorin for his unflinching support of the present administration

The three (3) year programme, which will run between 2022-2025 will cover all the primary schools in the sixteen (16) Local Government Areas in Kwara State with the target of 400,000 pupils

Some of the education stakeholders in Ilorin West and Ilorin East Local Government Areas were engaged to intimate them on the need to support the laudable project of the present administration in its bid to take the education sector to greater heights

Other stakeholder meetings were held at Queen Elizabeth Secondary School and Government Secondary School, both in the Ilorin metropolis.

Emir

KwaraLEARN Ramps Up Activities as Implementation Team Concludes Data Gathering Exercise

1st February 2022

The data-driven transformation of primary education in Kwara State through KwaraLEARN, the recently launched education intervention by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, is well underway as the Implementation Team has gathered preliminary academic data

The data-gathering exercise saw the Implementation Team having robust engagements with administrators and teachers in the selected schools to develop fit-for-purpose academic plans and quality instructional materials

The Team visited 30 schools in Baruten, Offa, Ilorin East and Ilorin West local governments as part of preparations for the full take-off of the initiative, a strategic intervention by the state government to radically transform public primary schools through the deployment of e-learning platforms for the improvement of both teachers and pupils.

Field officers and researchers obtained information on pupil and teacher performance and other relevant data to aid planning and curriculum development ahead of the programme’s commencement The data obtained would also be good for textbook selection and rigour of content and instruction in teacher guides

Speaking on the exercise, the Kwara State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, explained that it was to ensure that all its actions and plans are datadriven for optimum results

Gathering relevant data is crucial to the success of this intervention. We need to know the current state of affairs in the public schools to guide us in drawing up plans for both pupils and teachers. The data will also offer useful insights into trends in the schools because that’s the purpose of data. It’s not an end in itself but to get insights and on that basis, build the curriculum."

“Besides, school-level data will inform programming decisions such as timetable creation, specialist designations, and assessment structures

This program is very dear to our Governor, so we intend to achieve all its goals using every available scientific means to not only design the plans but also measure its impacts as we progress Introducing KwaraLEARN attests to the vision and foresight of Governor AbdulRazaq It affirms his commitment to transformational education through e-learning platforms and tailor-made solutions for teachers.

This is what serious leaders do, and he has demonstrated he is with us on this strategic intervention.”

Governor AbdulRazaq signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for KwaraLearn (Leading Education Achievement and Reform Now) in November 2021

Some of the expected benefits of the intervention include accelerating students’ literacy and numeracy, better classroom culture and more robust curriculum management

The initiative that would use innovative technology, data-driven platforms, high-quality learning materials, practical training and continuous coaching and support for teachers and school administrators will also enhance the teacher-pupil interaction experience through technology (eLearning), boost uniformity and strict adherence to the curriculum.

AbdulRazaqintroducesKwaraLEARNto revolutionisebasiceducation

Abdullahi, who disclosed that he was aware of EdoBEST and EKOEXCEL, said KwaraLEARN is a thoughtful and vital intervention by the forward-looking Governor investing massively in education

“Governor AbdulRazaq is God-sent to us in Kwara because this is a muchneeded intervention in basic education He knows the importance of education in today’s world, especially as we have since moved into a knowledge economy How will our children cope if they have faulty educational foundations? How will they fare in a digital 21st century where knowledge is crucial? This is a strategic initiative that would benefit all classes of people in Kwara and rescue public primary schools. With sound education for our children, our state’s future is secured.”

10th January 2022

Basic education in Kwara State is undergoing a revolution following the introduction of KwaraLEARN (Leading Education Achievement and Reform Now) by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration

KwaraLEARN is a public education transformation programme that would improve teaching and learning using innovative technology, datadriven platforms, high-quality learning materials, effective training and continuous coaching and support for teachers and school administrators

Governor AbdulRazaq signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of KwaraLEARN last November to develop the education sector and further boost its contribution to sustainable economic growth and development

The education reform programme will enhance the teacher-pupil interaction experience through technology (eLearning), boost uniformity and strict adherence to the curriculum as teachers’ tablets will be preloaded with lessons and content that will be effectively monitored for standardisation across all public primary schools

Governor AbdulRazaq’s flagship education programme, which will run till 2025, will also accelerate pupils’ learning, lead to better classroom culture and more robust curriculum management

The innovative intervention will accelerate student literacy and numeracy performance while also upskilling teachers.

Commenting on the initiative, a parent, Ganiyu Abdullahi, expressed delight with Governor AbdulRazaq’s strategic intervention while highlighting the benefits to students, teachers and the state

Chairman, Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (KWSUBEB), Prof Shehu Adaramaja, who has oversight over the intervention, also explained how it would further reposition public schools He reiterated the government’s commitment to education, adding that instruction in public primary schools would be enhanced with e-learning tools and access to high-quality and wellsupported teachers

“The Governor has been concerned about the state of public schools since he assumed office and has worked assiduously to arrest the rot.

KwaraLEARN is a further demonstration of his commitment to academic excellence and positioning our state for sustainable development in the 21st century."