From Muhammad Ahmadu Saka,Bauchi
The Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board (BASUBEB) and a private firm called New Globe, have indicated interest to enter into partnership to deploy 360-degree solutions technology in service delivery and monitoring for quality education.
The Team Lead of New Globe, Dr. Ahmed Golori, while presenting the organisation’s technology-driven education solutions to the Executive Chairman of the State SUBEB and other top officials of the Board on Friday, said that the firm would guide the state in accessing grants and providing implementation technical support.
Dr Golori said there is educational poverty in the Northern part of Nigeria, including out-of-school children, teacher absenteeism, and other ineffective methods that jeopardise learning outcomes and contribute to some negative indicators in the education sector.
He described the project as a support system that spans various aspects of SUBEB’s education framework – including classrooms, teachers, pupils, and the governor.
He said that the organisation has devised a model whereby authorities monitor when administrators and teachers start work and deliver their lessons, subject to oversight by either the Board’s Chairman or the Governor.
Dr Golori said that similar projects have been carried out by the organisation in Edo, Lagos, Bayelsa, Kwara, and Jigawa states, and are currently operating in six countries worldwide.
Earlier in her presentation, the Manager of Policy and Partnerships, New Globe, Africa, Pearl Owei explained that, “We are an education services company that partners with visionary governments in order to improve and transform foundational literacy and numeracy and the basic education system in the States.”
She said that “the State government was very enthusiastic. We could really see that SUBEB Chairman and his team are very ready to make real change within the available space and to really work together to improve the education for all the children and students in Bauchi.”
Owe said that, “We were received really well. It was a very pleasant meeting and we could really see enthusiasm from everybody that was involved.”
Speaking on the basics of the partnership, she said that: “Now, our programme is a 360 degree programme. So, what we are going to do is transform the basic education in Bauchi, improve foundational literacy, foundational numeracy, the entire school system in general, and the teachers’ performances.”
Owei said that,”the teachers will benefit from this programme as well. SUBEB and the Ministry of Education also, our job is to transform the entire programme.”
On the duration of the programme, She said that, “Well, that is still up for discussion, but normally we do five-year programming with the government and then there is always renewal after that.”
“Finally, I’d like to thank the Bauchi State Government and SUBEB officials for everything that they’ve been doing so far. Because from our research, Bauchi is one of the States that has a very visionary government and is very receptive to making real change within the state,” She stressed.
She said ”So, I’m very excited to be working together with Bauchi State, specifically because of the people of the State. So thank you so much for welcoming us.It’s going to be five years. That is all up for discussion and negotiation.”
Also speaking, Dr. Mohammed Boyi, who facilitated the coming of New Globe organizations, to Bauchi State, said that the purpose of doing that was because he has seen their performance in other places, particularly in Jigawa, Kwara, and Lagos, and even in some countries like Rwanda.
According to him, “So, I think it is needful for me, actually to, like, approach them to see whether they can come to Bauchi State and partner with us to give, so as to deliver some education, educational facilities that can benefit our children, our people.”
Mohammed Boyi added that,”The specifics is that, they will provide equipment that will assist in tracking the performances of teachers, students, and even they will provide computers, for use.”
