Cross River SUBEB: From rescuing mission to entrenching quality

In just over a year, the Cross River State Universal Basic Education Board  has moved from its avowed rescue mission to entrenching quality in the system.

The current SUBEB came to power 13 months ago but has sets its eyes on turning the sector enveloped by misfortune to fortune with the resources at its disposal.
Cross River State had a misfortune of seeing its basic primary education sector nosedived to an all-time low where it occupied 33rd position in the rating of the sector nationally. Years of neglect and poor policy direction was greeted by low teachers’ moral, low and poor pupil enrollments, dilapidated facilities and general dearth in the system.
Good teachers abandoned the schools on the state while pupils faced the prospect of repeating final year examinations over and over again.
Any new basic education policy therefore was going to be a daunting task to correct the sorry state of affairs. 
However, the birth of the administration of Prof. Ben Ayade as the Executive Governor of Cross River State became a good omen for the ailing sector. Sensing that his administration will also be judged by performance delivery in the sector, he appointed a long time lecturer and reformer to restore confidence and clean the plagues that have reduced basic education to a sorry state.

The appointment of a dogged fighter and a believer in the system, Dr Steve Odey by the Executive Governor to roll back the dangerous trend was a good appointment as can be seen already.
Amid the dwindling state allocation and general effect of recession, the SUBEB Chairman’s first task was to instill confidence in the system in both the teachers and pupils. Immediately, he ensured the commencement of Universal Basic Education Teachers Professional Development programme workshop also known as cluster to improve Teachers’ capacity so lacking in the state system.
Teachers were subsequently trained in two core areas – mathematics and Science called SMASE – Strengthening Mathematics and Science Education. 148 core teachers were successfully trained in SMASE, the highest in any state.
Another eye-catching teachers training was the 2015 Jolly Phonics workshop which saw the training of 2400 teachers, also the highest in any single training in the country.
For the administrators to properly propel the state, Cross River State SUBEB began Quality Assurance workshop for Executive Secretaries, monitoring officers and LGEA inspectors which saw several hundreds trained. 
The SUBEB Chairman quickly deployed his skill into accessing UBEC Marching grant between 2012 and 2015. This was followed up with the balance of the Excess Funds for Universal Basic Education (EFUBE) for the years of 2005, 2006 and 2007. These unclaimed funds with the Central Bank of Nigeria were meant for special projects.
Consequently, six more schools across the three senatorial districts are currently benefiting from the EFUBE. To monitor work progress, Hilux trucks have been provided.
In addition, the new SUBEB management fulfilled its terms of agreement and were able to access the 2013 and 2014 Special Education grants from UBEC.
These funds have been deployed to the construction of one/four classroom block at special education centre in Ogoja. The center has also been provided motorised borehole, training materials, 80 units of dual desk, seats and all necessary kits for comfortable learning environment.
The new management carried out personnel auditing to root out ghost workers and determine quality of teachers in the state. Many teachers with fake certificates were summarily fished out and dismissed while the project saves the state a whopping N10 million monthly.
To increase the number of manpower, the new SUBEB is hiring 1,000 qualified teachers to replace retired and dead ones. 
One notable change being introduced is the establishment of One Word class model school fashioned in line with the Canadian International School.
Academic activities have begun in several UBEC-buit junior secondary schools in places like Abi, Yala and others.
While vehicles have been purchased to ensure ongoing projects and classroom exercises are monitored, schools across the states are being rehabilitated and equipped with modern facilities.
In line  with modern education system, many schools in the state are being equipped with computer equipment and generators in all the 18 local governments. The government intends not ensure all schools in the state are information and communication technology-compliance in few years.
With this laudable performance within one year, the Board Chairman said he believes in the vision of the state governor, Prof Ben Ayade. He said his mission is to rescue the system in the state and ensures the state climbs to top ten in a year’s time and top three in two years and ultimately first in the years following.
For just 13 months, the story has moved quickly from rescue mission to entrenching quality and restore confidence in the sector in the state.
These enviable performance earned the the Board Chairman and the state SUBEB the best chairman and board South-South region from UBEC and Nigerian Union of Teachers few months ago during their annual award.
The Board was also been commended for its dogged approach despite lean resources and robust revolution it is carrying out in the state.
Since education is the bedrock of society, Cross River State will no doubt benefit immensely from the current needed changes and revolution in the sector.
If the current momentum of reshaping the sector in the state continues, then Cross River will in no time be the envy of all.