Northern Leaders urged to implement Research report on Northern education

By Kennedy Dimaku

Northern leaders and stakeholders have been urged to implement Research report by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Foundation to enhance quality education in the Northern part of the country.

Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation had organized conference on education in Northern Nigeria panultimate Tuesday at the National University Commission Abuja, to present the research report on
Education in Northern Nigeria: Status, challenges and way forward
The conference brought together the creme de la creme from the Northern part of Nigeria including the Vice president Kashim Shetima, serving and former ministers, serving and former governors, Senators, traditional rulers, as well as other stakeholders who in their various speeches asserted that the implement of the recommendations of the research report was the key to actualize quality and functional education in the Northern Region of the country
In a comminique issued at the end of the conference, and signed by the Director General, Engr Abubakar Gambo, it pointed out the need to strengthen political commitment to education which would involve political leaders giving priority to the design and implementation of education policies in line with national development objectives.
It noted that State Commissioners should brief their Governors on the urgent need for the implementation of the recommendations of the Report, adding that state governments should integrate the recommendations of the report into their State Education Strategic Plans with particular attention to the Action Plans, as well as each state
to appoint an Implementation Team that would be responsible for ensuring the implementation of the State Education Strategic Plan and recommendations of the Report.
It further stated the need to enhance investment in education through the development and rehabilitation of education infrastructure across the region. This include but not limited to ensuring the provision of child-friendly facilities that would encourage teaching and learning, as well as Funds meant for the education sector should be released as and when due, to ensure that they would be properly utilized for purposes for which they were meant for. It stressed that Fiscal responsibility and value for money should be key.
Also each state should ensure the availability of qualified and motivated teachers, while education authorities should promote the provision of incentives for teachers to encourage their recruitment and retention.
The communique further enjoined Northern Leaders and stakeholders to enhance advocacy in the region to ensure that parents and stakeholders further recognize the need to send their children to school. This would aim at encouraging stakeholders to make demands on government and education authorities to promote quality delivery.
Other recommendations include, ” That each state should promote Digital Literacy and ensure that Learners have the capacity to apply modern information technology in teaching and learning, and thereby having the capacity to explore and exploit diverse information sources.Develop Monitoring and Evaluation Framework with critical input from Stakeholders. This will support the assessment of implementation of education programmes and identify areas of challenge as well as those to build on.
“Promote greater community involvement in the implementation of education programmes including strengthening the School-Based Management Committees.
Promote greater collaboration among States, linkages and partnerships with Development Partners and other agencies involved in promoting education development.
“The Foundation should meet with the Northern Governors’ Forum to discuss the implementation of the Report.Strengthen Technical and Vocational Education & Training (TVET) so as to provide the youths of the Region with the needed skills. This will enable them to contribute and participate more actively in the national economy.Ensure the involvement of education managers such as Headteachers and Principals in decision making so as to improve quality of education delivery and enhance accountability. Ensure adequate security in educational establishments so as to encourage parents to send their children to school.The Foundation should act as catalyst for galvanizing support for education across the Region.” The comminique stated.