If pupils must achieve academic excellence, it is crucial that the government, schools, parents and the community work in synergy. The Governor Godwin Obaseki administration realises that in order to achieve its goals for basic education in the State, public schools should actively involve parents and engage community resources. This way, they would be able to respond more effectively to the educational needs of pupils.
It is in furtherance of this objective that community engagement and partnership became a cardinal pillar of Edo BEST and also the reason behind the setting up of School-Based Management Committees (SBMC). The SBMC which is made up of members of communities hosting Edo BEST schools, was incorporated into the framework of Edo BEST to enable a synergy among stakeholders.
So far, 11,628 SBMC members have been trained across the 18 LGAs of the State. Their commitment to Edo BEST has resulted in increased community participation in schools’ development. They assist significantly in providing security for school infrastructures as well as ensuring that pupils are properly mobilised for school activities. The on-going construction/renovation of public primary schools across the State has seen SBMC members monitoring the progress in their various communities. Some SBMC members convene chairs from their homes to sit at building sites in order to ensure contractors do a proper job and stick to the use of quality building materials.
SBMC members of Olua Primary School in Egor LGA, Akho Primary School, Irrua, in Esan Central, Payne Primary School in Oredo, to name but a few, have employed security guards to protect school property from vandals. SBMC members of St. Thomas Moore Primary School in Owan West have purchased mowers to rid the school compound of weeds and overgrown grasses. Some others have gladly donated cartons of white board markers as contribution to the enhancement of learning by pupils.
Making the immediate community part and parcel of Edo BEST has fostered an effective partnership between the government, school, parents and the community. This has contributed greatly in developing a sense of cooperation among pupils, and as such, enhanced their learning abilities and assisted pupils in adapting and attending more to classroom activities.
Edo BEST provides quality education for every child.
Photo Caption: Mower purchased by some SBMC members.
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