By Kayode Adeoti, Ilorin

Condition of Schools Before Gov. AA’s Emergence

For years, students in Kolofo, Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State, endured a woefully inadequate learning environment. They attended classes under a makeshift grass-thatched tent, eerily similar to a traditional ‘Shuka’ (hut). 

The learning conditions in this community were far from ideal, with a few determined pupils often fleeing to the nearby home of a kindly villager, Abdulhakeem Sanni, fondly called ‘Mallim,’ to escape being drenched when it rained. 

Cramped and dilapidated classrooms, inadequate furniture, and insufficient basic amenities like toilets, fences, computers, and water facilities were the norm. This unfortunate situation not only created an unconducive learning environment but also posed health risks to students and teachers alike. 

This was the situation in Kolofo and several other communities, particularly in the remote parts of the three senatorial districts of the state, until the government of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq took office in 2019.

Turning Eyesores into Cynosure 

An independent tour of schools across the three senatorial districts of Kwara State revealed a dramatic transformation in the state’s basic education. The government, fondly called “AA” in political circles, demolished old classroom structures and reconstructed and rebuilt new ones. 

Worthy of note is that the once dilapidated Kolofo LGEA School, which had been housed in a shuka, has been replaced with modern buildings, complete with functioning toilets and modern furniture to ensure the comfort of both teachers and pupils. 

The Headmistress of Kolofo Primary School, Mrs. Yusuf Serifat, could not hide her joy during an interview, exclaiming, “Governor Abdulrahman has made us laugh.” 

She continued, reflecting on the past situation: “For several years, our school was under a bamboo-made tent. When it rained, we sought shelter in Malim’s house. Many of our children got discouraged and stopped coming. We would go to their houses, pleading with parents to send them back. School enrollment was poor, but today, parents bring their children for enrollment without being lured. We now have modern structures with toilets and equipment.” 

A similar transformation occurred at Otte-Oja LGEA, where Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq’s investments in education have yielded impressive results. The once-vulnerable school now boasts a secure perimeter fence and brand-new buildings to accommodate its growing population. 

The Zonal Headmistress of the school, Mope Rauf Ishola, revealed that before the governor’s intervention, the school had no fence, and the premises served as a public pathway. 

According to her, “People created a shortcut through the school premises, making it look like a public path. Strangers would drive through, disrupting our classes, and most significantly, students could not leave school unnoticed.” 

“Before now, many of our children sat on the bare floor, and there was no provision for teachers’ chairs or tables. The story has changed today. No more invasions. We have renovated classrooms, a water system, and an ICT center. We’ve moved from chalkboards to computer screens.” 

Ikhwanu Junior Secondary School in Adabata has also undergone significant transformation thanks to the current governor’s efforts. The school head, Sherifat Abdulsalam, highlighted the remarkable changes, stating that the old building was demolished and replaced with a modern structure, complete with a fence and gate. 

The new building has made a substantial impact, addressing previous issues such as overcrowding and combined classes. Students now have separate classrooms, and the school boasts modern amenities, including ceilings, roofs, benches, furniture, and toilets for both students and teachers. 

“In the past, people would walk their cattle through the school compound, letting them defecate freely. If we tried to stop them, they wouldn’t listen. Students would often run away from school, but now we have night and day guards, and the compound is fully fenced and secured. However, we still need better drainage, as the dust can be overwhelming.” 

Alhaja Mustapha Basirat, Principal of Nawairudeen Grammar School in Offa, expressed her appreciation for the new school building provided by the government. She highlighted the positive impact of the new facility on the students’ learning environment and noted that the school now needs a laboratory for Home Economics classes at the Junior Secondary School (JSS) level. 

She said, “With a total of approximately 1,200 students (600 in JSS and 600 in SS), the school lacks a library, which is essential for supporting academic research and learning.” 

Shao Community Primary LGEA School has also benefited from the provision of running water, making a significant impact on students’ health, hygiene, and overall learning experience.

Enhancing E-Learning

The Kwara State Government, through the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), has implemented various e-learning initiatives to improve the quality of basic education and provide students with access to digital educational resources, including online textbooks, videos, and interactive lessons. 

The board has also established digital classrooms in selected schools, equipped with computers, internet connections, and other digital tools to support teaching and learning. 

The state government has distributed tablets to teachers, preloaded with digital educational resources and apps to support learning. 

St. Cyprian 1 LGEA in Offa, Offa Local Government Area, was equipped with 24 computers. The computer teacher, Soleye Mayowa, spoke passionately about the modern initiative, expressing gratitude to the government for equipping the students with the knowledge necessary for using computers. 

LGEA Primary School in Maya, Ilorin East, has benefited from the governor’s provision of solar-powered running water, which serves both the school and the community. This initiative has been praised by Mallam Sadudeen Akanji Ayelade and Hajia Muktar Minirat, the headmaster and headmistress. 

Previously, the water brought by pupils was not safe for consumption, and the school had to treat it before it could be used. The new solar-powered water system has likely improved the health and well-being of students and community members.

At the Pilot School Malete, functional ICT facilities were discovered, along with the renovation of all 10 classrooms and the provision of 150 benches. The growing student population, now at 457 pupils, continues to increase as new enrollments happen daily. 

Comrade Otoola Samuel, the Headmaster of Pilot School Malete, could not contain his joy, exclaiming, “Thanks to our governor.” 

Mustapha Moshood Asude, the Vice Principal of Academics at Government Day Junior Secondary School, Amule, shared a remarkable transformation story during the visit. 

According to him: “Before the renovation, the school was in a state of disrepair, with classes held downstairs, and enrollment was low. After the renovation, the school experienced a significant surge in enrollment, with the number of students doubling.” 

“The school now boasts impressive facilities, including a computer center and well-furnished classrooms. With a current enrollment of 1,400 students, the school has become a hub of academic excellence, thanks to the renovation efforts.” 

**SUBEB Chairman Speaks on Teachers’ Salaries and Promotions** 

The Chairman of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Professor Shehu Adaramaja Raheem, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve. 

Adaramaja, in an interview with this medium, disclosed that he inherited dilapidated schools, with teachers receiving salaries on a percentage basis, a process he described as “Geri Gedi” in local parlance, and a non-functioning promotion scheme that failed to motivate teachers to work. 

According to him, he assumed office with a mandate from the governor to address the issues in the basic education system. 

“I was mandated to fix basic education problems, which is why I initiated various programs. When we came in, schools were dilapidated, students were learning under trees, and teachers were demoralized, receiving salaries on percentages. Parents were withdrawing their children to private schools, and there was no motivation.” 

“Promotion was done based on influence, and the last promotion we encountered was from 2016. The UBEC loan of N450 million, which this government inherited, has been settled. We’ve remodeled 38 schools, provided 89 boreholes, and touched every political ward in the 193 wards of the state,” he said. 

He further revealed that the government had cleared a backlog of N3 billion in salary arrears for teachers and carried out promotions at different times to ensure that teachers remained motivated to work with passion. 

The SUBEB Chairman also mentioned that pupils from Kwara State schools have performed excellently in local and international debate competitions, stating they came first in 2021 and second in a competition held in Dubai. 

“Our pupils represented Nigeria in Singapore, where 79 countries participated, and we’re preparing for another debate competition in China this July. We hope to return with nothing but first place,” he said.