…to implement digitisation of legislative arm of govt
…extends fibre optic to LGAs, secondary schools, PHCs
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki said his administration has recorded great success with the implementation of the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBEST) programme, which is working and delivering on its goals of transforming basic education in the State.
The governor, who spoke to journalists at the Government House, in Benin City said his administration is finalising plans to send some bills to the Edo Assembly to amend existing laws, particularly on secondary education and facilitate proper disarticulation of schools in the State.
Obaseki said, “In the area of basic education, secondary and technical education, a lot of work is being done. We are finalising some bills that will be sent to the House of Assembly to help us amend the existing laws, particularly on secondary education. As you know, we have been working hard on the disarticulation of secondary from junior schools.
“You recall that 24 years ago, there was a federal policy to shift our educational policy from a 6-5-4 to a 6-3-3-4 system. Even though it has been done as a policy, nobody, not even the federal government has been able to separate what should be basic education from secondary education and also list out what the expectations are at that level of education.”
He further noted, “In Edo, we want to pride ourselves as a progressive State in terms of education. We will be coming back to the Assembly with the laws we have put in place to redefine our educational system and it is important because EdoBEST is a success story. It is working as the children we trained will finish primary six now, and go to JSS and with the confused policy, these children will be in crisis. That is why we must come back to the Assembly.
“In the area of education, we are doing well. In the area of digitalisation, one of the conversations we will be having with the House is on digitising the legislature as we are concluding the digitalisation of the executive arm of government. As of today, we have digitised and archived over seven million government records and from September 1, 2023, we are cutting off from paper to paperless government and we want the same to happen in the legislative arm.”
The governor added, “We are almost concluding the laying of fibre optic cables across your various constituencies and by the end of October, all local government headquarters will be connected with fibre optics. We have identified 52 secondary schools to be connected and all Primary Health Care Centres. These are some of the things we should be doing to render services to our people.
“We would not be distracted but remain focused on delivering good governance to our people. With this kind of support, we will be able to finish strong.”