Ismail Abdulazeez Mantu Reporting
Edo State, Nigeria
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, unveiled a significant milestone in the state’s educational sector, announcing that children’s literacy and numeracy rates have soared to 70 percent, effectively aligning with their counterparts in Europe and Asia.
This remarkable achievement marks a substantial leap from the national average of 30 percent.
Obaseki attributed this commendable progress to the implementation of the Edo State Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBEST) programme, which has been instrumental in fortifying the educational framework over the past seven and a half years. When his administration took office, the educational infrastructure in the state was in disarray, necessitating urgent and comprehensive reforms to combat learning poverty. Leveraging technology as a catalyst for improved learning outcomes, the governor’s initiatives have yielded tangible results, impacting over 400,000 children across various schools in the state.
Reflecting on the state’s initial predicament, Governor Obaseki recalled a critical juncture where Edo State served as a focal point for human trafficking and illegal migration. Disturbingly, between 2016 and 2017, more than 30,000 young individuals from Edo sought refuge in Libya with aspirations of crossing into Europe. This alarming trend underscored the dire need for substantive reforms in the educational landscape to enhance employability and deter such perilous pursuits.
“The collapse of our educational system served as a clarion call for decisive action,” remarked Governor Obaseki. “We embarked on a comprehensive overhaul of our educational framework, launching the Edo State Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBEST) Programme, which has since garnered international recognition.”
The governor reiterated, “Today, our children’s literacy and numeracy rates stand at 70 percent, a testament to the efficacy of our reforms. We have equipped over 11,000 teachers with the necessary tools and training, empowering them to deliver quality education to our youth.”