The Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board has unveiled plans to establish mega schools in each of the state’s 16 local government areas to enhance the quality of basic education.
SUBEB Chairman, Prof. Femi Akinwumi, announced the initiative on Thursday in Ado Ekiti, emphasizing that the schools would be equipped with modern learning facilities, including Information and Communication Technology tools, specialized laboratories, and audio-visual equipment.
“The mega schools will be furnished with state-of-the-art ICT equipment and ultra-modern audio-visual facilities to make students globally competitive,” Akinwumi stated.
Each of the proposed schools will feature 12 classrooms with a capacity to accommodate at least 400 pupils. Additionally, the schools will be fitted with science, computer, and home economics laboratories, a library, modern toilet facilities with water and sanitation systems, and will be secured with perimeter fencing.
Akinwumi noted that school enrolment figures would be a key factor in determining the locations of these mega schools.
He further revealed that Governor Biodun Oyebanji had approved the payment of over N3.5 billion as counterpart funds for the 2024 UBEC/SUBEB Intervention Fund to improve both school infrastructure and teacher capacity.
“This intervention is part of the government’s continuous efforts, which started in 2018, to enhance the learning environment in public schools,” he added.
The state government also plans to allocate funds for regular maintenance of school facilities and the digitization of the basic education sector.
According to Akinwumi, the digitization of school materials is being implemented at no cost to the state government through partnerships with development agencies.
Additionally, SUBEB has secured approval for training 4,000 teachers in modern teaching methods this academic session, a significant increase from the 2,700 teachers trained last session.
“Following the establishment of the Graduate Teachers’ cadre in public primary schools, 505 university graduates recruited in 2023 have been upgraded from Grade Level 07 to Grade Level 08,” Akinwumi disclosed.
