By Philip Yatai

Prof. Raymond Bako of the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria (ABU), on Saturday in Kaduna, urged Local Government Chairmen and Local Government Education Secretaries to synergise to achieve the needed quality in basic education.

Bako gave the advice in a paper entitled, “Working Together for Result: Relationship between Local Government Chairmen and Local Government Education Secretaries.”

He presented the paper at the ongoing two-day policy retreat with the theme: “The State of Basic Education in Kaduna State: Prospects and Challenges”, organised by the state’s Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

Bako pointed out that the relationship between local government chairmen and education secretaries in the state had so far gone sour over the years due to clash of interest and overlapping responsibilities.

He, however, stressed the need to work together and respect each other’s space and authority to achieve positive results in area of ensuring provision of quality education at basic level.

“The local government chairmen are responsible for management of primary education, but they cannot achieve much result without the collaboration and full support of their respective Education Secretaries.

“This is because, any success is a result of a combination of many actors working together, as such, addressing the state of primary education in the country cannot be done in isolation.

“No single entity or agency can do this alone. We will only achieve the desired result through working together for the good of the system in our efforts to provide quality education to our people.

“Therefore, maintaining a good relationship between local government chairmen and their respective education secretaries will consolidate on the success made toward achieving good, quality and free basic education in the state,” he said.

He, therefore, called on the local government chairmen and education secretaries of the 23 Local Government Areas in the state to work toward a compelling vision, mutual respect and trust.

According to him, this will change their mindsets as regards the ownership of primary education by seeing themselves as partners and key actors in overcoming the challenges facing the sector.

Also, Dr Abubakar Madaki, of the Faculty of Law, ABU, stressed the need for massive awareness on the Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme in the state.

In a paper entitled, “A Critical Review of the Kaduna State Local Government Law 2018 and the Universal Basic Education Programme in Kaduna State”, Madaki stressed the need for synergy among relevant stakeholders.

Madaki noted said that all relevant institutions and organisations involve in the implementation of the UBE scheme in the state must work in synergy to minimise overlapping actions that would jeopardise government efforts.

Prof. Emmanuel Chom, Faculty of Education, ABU, commended the state government for its efforts in providing quality teaching and learning in basic schools.

He said: “Such effort will create the needed result through proper coordination of basic education, especially by the local government chairmen and their respective education Secretaries.”

The retreat was organised by the Kaduna State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to look at issues around basic education and chart a way forward.