As the success story of the EdoBEST initiative spread across and beyond the country, Edo is gradually becoming a Education Mecca, as the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), have continued to play host to a roll call of development seekers, latest on the lineup of these visitors, is a two man delegation from Ondo state SUBEB, who were in Edo to determine the practicality of replicating the EdoBEST model back home. The two man delegation led by Dr. Adekungbe Tosin, Director, Quality Assurance Ondo SUBEB, took a tour of Evboriaria and Ivbiotor primary schools, for an on the spot evaluation of the viability and effectiveness of EdoBEST program. Welcoming the delegates to an interactive Session, the Executive Chairman Edo SUBEB, Dr. Joan Osa-Oviawe noted that the success story of Edo BEST is anchored on the genuine desire and commitment of Gov. Godwin Obaseki to completely resuscitate the Education industry as a panacea to addressing societal ills. Dr. Osa-Oviawe emphasized the 5 pillars on which the EdoBEST program is predicated. “The Teacher Professional Development Programme (TPDP) has improved our teachers’ proficiency and use of modern teaching technological devices.” She recounted the training of 11,356 Teachers and Head Teachers on the EdoBEST digital pedagogy as well _275,000+_ electronic pupil records. She informed the delegation that 234 public primary schools across the three senatorial districts have undergone a complete infrastructural upgrade, she added that with the training of 11,628 active School Base Management Committee (SBMC) members there’s been a fruitful synergy between State Government and host communities. The delegates had a robust time discussing with SUBEB and EdoBEST field officers from across the State, this session afforded both parties the opportunity to compare notes and seek mutually beneficial stance. The leader of the two man team Dr. Adekungbe Tosin in a valedictory response appreciated the management of Edo SUBEB under the leadership of Dr. Joan Osa-Oviawe for the opportunity to understudy the Edo State model. He reiterated that they were in the State to understudy with a view to replicate same in their State. He noted that the socio-culural similarities of both States has endeared the educational requirements and Ondo cannot afford to lag behind. Dr Adekungbe was elated to be on the roll call of States and Nations that have made pilgrimage to Edo in the quest for educational excellence. Preceding this visit by a delegation from Ondo SUBEB. Edo hosted other countries and States notably among which are Sierra Leone and Rwanda as well as Ekiti and Lagos States, these visits were made with the sole aim of understudying the EdoBEST program and replicating same back home respectively and it’s on record that most of these visits have birthed similar creations, latest being EKO EXCEL.
