By; FUNMI ADERINTO, Kaduna
Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (KADSUBEB), has on Monday distributed 2,358 tablet devices to public primary schools of the state to kick-start the pupils digital attendance registers/tablets in school.
The Executive Chairman (SUBEB), Tijani Abdullahi made this known at the flag off of the digital attendance register for the distribution to 2,358 public primary schools held in Kaduna.
Speaking on basic education, he said it is the foundation upon which other levels of education are built and a necessary requirement for human and national progress.
“Also, it brings growth and development to the young one’s intellectual capacity as well as their moral, attitude and how they relate to those around them,” he added.
According to him, the digital attendance register is a new Disbursement Link Indicator (DLI) under the World Bank funded programme of Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) introduced to provide records of presence and absence of pupils in schools.
He said, actors of basic education at different levels can use it to track pupils school attendance for retention completion enhanced decision making and planning purposes.
However, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) is set to conduct an Independent Verification exercise of BESDA activities in the schools.
The chairman noted that the evidence of presence and use of digital attendance registers will fetch the state numerous rewards.
He commended Kaduna State Government for demonstrating strong commitment to improving basic education system in various ways and will continue to give it the utmost priority it deserves.
He urged the acting education secretaries, head teachers, school Based Management Committees (SBMCs) religious and traditional leaders to support this initiative so that the state can earn the expected rewards as well as tracking children at risk of dropping out of school for retention.
“Consequentially, the head teachers will be accountable for the safety and whereabouts of the digital attendance registers/tablets of their schools,” he said.
It would be recalled that, the State Universal Basic Education Board is collaborating with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and other organizations towards improving the provision of Basic Education in Kaduna State.
On a goodwill message, Malam Uba Yusuf who spoke on the behalf of parents, said he was impressed with the digital level of technology in the state, reiterating that the government’s efforts are paying off.
On her part, Aisha Abdulkadir who represented the Kaduna North Local Government Area expressed the appreciation to the state government.
She assured the State of adequate use of data in record keeping.
