On Tuesday, the Kwara State Government observed the second anniversary of KwaraLEARN, a technology-driven program, resulting in an increase in student enrollment from 120,000 to 180,000 over the past two years.
Mrs. Laide Abel, the Managing Director of the initiative, made this announcement during the event.
KwaraLEARN stands for Kwara State Leading Education Achievement and Reform Now, showcasing the government’s significant investment in modern technology to empower teachers and enhance learning in elementary classes.
Abel highlighted during a stakeholders’ retreat commemorating the program’s second anniversary that KwaraLEARN has boosted literacy and numeracy skills of students in Kwara’s elementary schools by a minimum of 50 percent.
The retreat featured various departments presenting their experiences in the field and in tech-based situation rooms across different areas of the state.
Government officials such as the Chairman of the House Committee on Education, Muhammed Baba Salahu; Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Sa’adatu Moddibo Kawu; Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development Aliyu Kora Sabi; Commissioner for Communications Bola Olukoju; Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, Prof. Sheu Raheem Adaramaja; and the Accountant General of the State, Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Sani also attended the retreat.
According to the Managing Director, “We have witnessed substantial impacts so far, and in two years, we are pleased with the outcomes we have achieved. For example, the percentage of students unable to read has decreased by over 50 percent, and the number of students struggling with basic math has seen a similar reduction.”
She further added, “One area of significant improvement is the surge in school enrollments, exceeding 180,000 students from primary 1 to 6 in all public primary schools in the state, up from 120,000 at the program’s inception. This demonstrates the program’s effectiveness and acceptance.”
Commending the administration for its dedication to educational advancement, Mrs. Laide Abel expressed gratitude to Governor AbdulRazaq for his trust in her team.
Malam Baba Salahu lauded the government for its substantial investment in transforming the state’s education sector, noting a clear departure from previous practices.
“The KwaraLEARN project holds great promise in the education sector, although comprehensive improvements take time. Nonetheless, the positive shift from the past is evident,” he stated.
Education Commissioner Sa’adatu praised the impactful nature of the KwaraLearn initiative and the encouraging progress achieved thus far.
Expressing appreciation to the governor for fostering an enabling environment for the program’s success, Kora highlighted the grassroots benefits, aligning with the governor’s campaign pledges.
Prof. Adaramaja emphasized the successes of the program in terms of teacher attendance, content delivery, and the integration of technology in advancing the education system in the state.
Reflecting on the two-year journey of KwaraLEARN, Adaramaja noted, “Today, we are here to assess the successes of KwaraLEARN. The progress has been commendable, yet certain areas require further enhancement.”