The Nasarawa State government has held an education summit aimed at addressing challenges facing basic education and improving learning outcomes across the state.

The summit, organised by the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), brought together stakeholders including educationists, government officials, traditional rulers, policymakers, parents and teachers from within and outside the country.

Participants deliberated on key challenges facing the sector, shared best practices and proffered solutions to enhance the quality of teaching and learning.

Governor Abdullahi Sule, who spoke at the event on Thursday in Lafia, restated his administration’s commitment to transforming the education sector.

Mr Sule said that his administration would continue to invest in the sector, given its critical role in the development of the state.

“I am ready to commit resources to the transformation of the education sector, even if that is the only legacy my administration would leave after leaving office in 2027.

“That is why the sector has continued to receive the highest budgetary allocation since my assumption of office in 2019.

“We have implemented more than 10 years of outstanding promotions for secondary and primary school teachers, as well as other civil servants, and renovated and constructed structures in many schools across the state.

“We have also recruited teachers to fill vacancies created by retirements, deaths and transfers, in addition to the creation of more schools and the introduction of new subjects to strengthen the system,” he said.

The governor commended Kassim Mohammed-Kassim, executive chairman of SUBEB, and his team for initiating the summit and for the work they have been doing since assuming office.

In his remarks, Mr Mohammed-Kassim said the summit became necessary following the discovery of several gaps and challenges affecting basic education in the state.

He said two committees set up by the board upon his assumption of office identified issues such as poor infrastructure, shortage of chairs, inadequate teachers, truancy, improper teacher placement, and theft of school furniture, sometimes in connivance with staff.

“To address these issues, the governor has approved the procurement of 30,000 chairs to improve classroom comfort and the employment of more teachers.

“We have also redeployed 1,900 administrative staff back to classrooms, and we are planning to deploy an additional 1,000 to address shortages,” he said.

Mr Mohammed-Kassim appealed to parents, especially herders and others whose children are out of school, to enrol them, warning that defaulters risk sanctions.

He said the board would soon begin arresting out-of-school children and prosecuting their parents in line with existing laws.

Presenting a paper titled “Basic Education in Nasarawa State: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”, Tonnie Iredia, a veteran broadcaster, called for strict sanctions against officials diverting school facilities and teachers who fail to perform their duties.

He also stressed the need to reward hardworking teachers as a way of improving standards in the sector.