Community Engagement and Partnership as a major pillar of the Edo BEST programme has continued to pay off. Since the advent of the Edo BEST Initiative, communities hosting public primary schools within the State have shown their desire to embrace the change which the current Obaseki-led administration has initiated in the basic education sub-sector.
Members of the SBMC have displayed a sense of concern towards the education of pupils in their communities as recent demonstrations have shown. The over eleven thousand (11,000) School-Based Management Committee (SBMC) members who were trained in November 2018, have become actively involved in the day to day administration of Edo BEST schools within their communities.
In a bid to consolidate on the excellent transformation at the basic education level, members of the SBMC have taken up the responsibility of going round their locality to monitor the ongoing renovation/construction projects in 232 public primary schools in the State.
In Evbuotubu Primary School in Egor LGA for instance, members of the SBMC have assisted enormously in the supervision of the construction work in the School in order to ensure that contractors adhere to the construction plans and specifications as well as refrain from the use of sub-standard building materials. This is the case in most public schools under construction and renovation across the State.
Members of the SBMC have also afforded the government a great leverage in the provision of security for school property and building materials, as well as the protection of schools against vandalism. SBMCs of Eveva Primary School in Etsako East LGA, Eweka Primary School in Egor LGA and Ukpato Primary School in Esan West LGA for instance, have made adequate provisions for security personnel to ensure proper monitoring and surveillance of school property and guard against trespassers.
It is also worthy of note that the SBMCs have begun the auction of old building materials like zinc bundles and wood logs and ensuring that the money realised are properly channelled toward the maintenance of schools within their community. In most schools, SBMCs have realized over a hundred thousand Naira (100,000) from sales.
In prior times, it was different. When school buildings were vandalised and a renovation/reconstruction work carried out, not only are construction materials stolen, old building materials vanish into thin air as well. The inauguration of the SBMC has militated greatly against such trend. Schools are now adequately protected by members of the community and funds are being realised for schools’ maintenance from the sales of old building materials.
Determination, dedication and attitude remain essential ingredients of education in modern times. These are unique attributes that have characterized the School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) since their inauguration. Incorporating the community as well as its members into the framework of the Edo BEST Programme remain one of the standing legacies of the Governor Godwin Obaseki administration in basic education which shall linger through the sands of time.
Edo BEST provides quality education for every child.
Photo Caption: Schools undergoing renovation/construction
