The Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board (ODSUBEB), in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), has commenced a three-day statewide seminar aimed at strengthening the capacity of headteachers and principals of junior secondary schools on quality assurance practices and effective school administration.
The seminar, held at St. James Caring Heart Mega Primary School, Akure, has its theme: “Improving the Capacity of School Leaders on Quality Assurance Procedures for Effective and Efficient School Administration.”
Declaring the seminar open, the Permanent Secretary of ODSUBEB, Princess Abike Bayo-Ilawole, said the programme was both timely and strategic, stressing that quality assurance remained fundamental to the effective management and continuous improvement of the education system.
She explained that the seminar was designed to deepen participants’ understanding of quality assurance mechanisms and strengthen their capacity for effective self-monitoring and evaluation within their schools.
According to her, “Quality assurance ensures that set standards are not only met but sustained, that our schools remain centres of excellence, and that our learners are equipped with the knowledge, values and skills required to thrive in a rapidly changing world.”
The Permanent Secretary described headteachers and junior secondary school principals as the frontline managers of the state’s schools, noting that they bear the critical responsibility of translating government policies and educational programmes into measurable learning outcomes.
She emphasised that the success of the state’s education policies largely depended on the effectiveness, commitment and professionalism of school leaders.
The Permanent Secretary further disclosed that the seminar would expose participants to contemporary approaches to school supervision, mentoring, record-keeping and data-driven decision-making.
She said the programme was expected to equip school leaders with the necessary skills to effectively monitor teaching and learning standards, strengthen administrative processes and ensure compliance with established educational guidelines.
Princess Bayo-Ilawole commended the Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, for his continued support for the education sector through the implementation of the EASE Agenda.
She particularly acknowledged the Governor’s commitment to the timely payment of counterpart funds, improvement of school infrastructure and enhancement of teachers’ welfare, describing these initiatives as evidence of his administration’s recognition of education as a critical driver of sustainable development.
She urged the participants to take the seminar seriously by actively participating in the sessions, asking questions and sharing practical experiences with facilitators and fellow school leaders.
Princess Bayo-Ilawole also challenged them to translate the knowledge gained during the programme into improved administrative practices and better learning outcomes in their respective schools.
“Knowledge acquired at this seminar must not end within these walls. It must reflect in your daily administrative practices and ultimately translate into improved teaching and learning outcomes in your various schools,” she said.
She therefore, reaffirmed ODSUBEB’s commitment to promoting quality, equity and inclusiveness in basic education across Ondo State, assuring stakeholders that the Board would continue to strengthen schools through regular capacity-building programmes, robust monitoring exercises and effective feedback mechanisms designed to promote continuous improvement and enhance the overall quality of the state’s education system.
The State Coordinator of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Mrs. Olanike Adams, emphasised the critical role of quality assurance in promoting effective school administration and improving educational outcomes across Ondo State.
She said school leaders, particularly headteachers and principals, have a critical responsibility to ensure that established educational standards are properly understood and consistently implemented in their respective schools.
According to her, strengthening the capacity of school leaders in quality assurance procedures would enhance accountability, promote effective supervision and contribute to improved teaching and learning outcomes.
Mrs. Adams commended ODSUBEB and other stakeholders for organising the training, describing it as an important initiative aimed at strengthening school leadership and administration across the state.
She expressed confidence that the knowledge, skills and practical experiences acquired by participants during the programme would be translated into tangible improvements in school management and leadership.
One of the resource persons Dr. Julius Adedoja of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Abuja has outlined the key objectives of the capacity-building programme for headteachers and principals of junior secondary schools across Ondo State.
Dr. Adedoja explained that the training was designed to equip school leaders with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills in quality assurance principles, processes and procedures for effective school supervision.
According to him, the programme also seeks to strengthen the capacity of headteachers and principals to undertake effective internal supervision in their respective schools, in alignment with established quality assurance standards.
He noted that another critical objective of the training was to guide participants on how to accurately and efficiently complete the School Self-Evaluation (SS-E) instrument, using relevant school data, indicators and other available evidence to assess the performance of their schools.
Dr. Adedoja further disclosed that participants would receive hands-on training on the effective utilisation of findings from the School Self-Evaluation exercise to develop Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound (SMART) School Development Plans.
The occasion was witnessed by the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the Chairman of the Association of Primary School Health Workers of Nigeria (AUPSHON), Education Secretaries from across the Local Government Areas, and other key stakeholders in the education sector.
In their separate remarks, the stakeholders commended and acknowledged the significant interventions of the present administration in the education sector, particularly its efforts towards improving school infrastructure, strengthening teachers’ welfare, enhancing capacity building, and creating an enabling environment for effective teaching and learning across
In his remarks, the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Chief Adesoji Okedusi, expressed his appreciation to the Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, and the management of the Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board (ODSUBEB) for their continued support and commitment to strengthening quality assurance and improving the standard of basic education across the state.
He assured the management of the commitment of the Monitoring and Evaluation Department to making effective use of the support provided to drive continuous improvement in teaching, learning and school administration across Ondo State.
As part of efforts to enhance quality assurance and improve data collection and reporting, newly procured tablets were also distributed to Quality Assurance Desk Officers across the Local Government Areas of Ondo State.
The distribution of the digital devices is expected to strengthen monitoring activities, facilitate timely reporting and improve data-driven decision-making in the administration of basic education across the state.
The seminar brought together headteachers, principals of junior secondary schools, quality assurance officers and other key education stakeholders from across Ondo State.
The initiative is expected to contribute significantly to strengthening school leadership, improving accountability and ensuring that educational standards are consistently maintained across public basic education institutions in the state.
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