ADMAWA STATE UNIVERSAL BASIC EDUCATION BOARD, TRANSFOMS PRIMARY CLASSROOMS AS BASIC EDUCATION GETS MAJOR UPGRADES.

By Bamanga Abdullahi Gombi.

Knowledge and education are widely regarded as the greatest investments in human progress and development. 

They also remain powerful tools for transforming society.

With this in mind, the Adamawa State Universal Basic Education Board ADSUBEB appears to be making significant strides in improving basic education across the state.

A Radio Nigeria investigation in Yola indicates that infrastructure development and the quality of teaching and learning in public primary schools have improved significantly.

The Education Secretary of Lamurde Local Education Authority, Mr. Nathaniel Ali, said classroom facilities in the area's 80 public primary schools have improved significantly, allowing learning activities to continue smoothly despite recent security challenges.

Ali noted that despite the security challenges in some communities in the area, educational activities are still ongoing, saying that only three schools were closed as a result of the communal clashes between the Chobo and Bachama ethnics.

"The local government has engaged security personnel to safeguard the schools. However, their number is inadequate. So I discussed the issue with the ADSUBEB Chairman, Dr. Murtala Babayi, who promised to inform His Excellency, the Governor, about the need to deploy additional security personnel to cover all schools".

Similarly, a head teacher in Gombi local education authority and a classroom teacher in Yola South, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed improvements in infrastructure and learning conditions.

They, however, appealed to the government to address delays in teachers' promotions and welfare benefits to sustain their morale.

The Adamawa State Chairman of the Parents-Teachers Association PTA, Lawan Abubakar Umar, commended the construction and renovation of classrooms as well as the provision of learning materials across the state. 

He also highlighted school fencing, provision of computers and electronic boards, and deployment of security personnel, particularly in insurgency-affected communities.

"He, however, expressed concern over wind damage to classroom roofs in some rural schools and called for prompt repairs"

Also speaking, the State Chairman of the School-Based Management Committee SBMC, Alhaji Isa Galadima, acknowledged improvements in school infrastructure and learning materials.

Galadima further stressed that, while progress has been made in urban schools, rural areas also faced pressure from rising enrollment and require urgent attention to address challenges in rural schools, including shortages of furniture, toilet facilities, and modern teaching and learning materials.

"As we advance in the 21st century, we respectfully appeal to the Government to prioritize the provision of modern learning umaterials and the distribution of free uniforms to new pupils to boost school enrollment and retention".

Reacting, the Director of School Services at ADSUBEB, Hajiya Zainab Saleh Michika, said the Board is working to ensure the distribution of teaching and learning materials to schools, including those in hard-to-reach areas.

She added that teacher training, promotions, monitoring vehicles, menstrual hygiene kits, and other educational support programmes are being provided to improve learning outcomes.

Hajiya Zainab also commended the Federal Government, the North East Development Commission, the Global Partnership for Education, UNICEF, and other development partners for supporting educational interventions that have boosted school enrolment across the state.

Stakeholders unanimously praised the ADSUBEB Chairman, Dr. Murtala Babayi, for his leadership and transparency, noting that his efforts have contributed significantly to the progress recorded in basic education in Adamawa State.