The Kogi State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, has approved and unveiled reviewed textbooks for nursery, primary and secondary schools to be used in the next five years in the state.
Speaking at the signing and unveiling ceremony in Lokoja, the state’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, said the textbooks would be used by all public and private schools across the state, except in tertiary institutions.
He described the book review which occurred every five years as a great privilege and divine ordination to have happened under his watch as the commissioner.
He thanked His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello, for founding him worth of occupying the seat, eulogising the Governor for making education his number one priority among other crucial needs of the state.
He noted that the majority of the insecurity challenges currently facing the nation were essentially traceable to a lack of quality education.
He said that the Governor was doing everything possible to address these challenges through education policy in the direction of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
He stressed that STEM was thoroughly considered in arriving at the reviewed books to be used for the next five years in schools across the state.
The commissioner commended the committee members for giving their all towards ensuring the success of the exercise.
The commissioner noted that the signing and approval of the reviewed books for use in the state, did not mean that new books could not be accommodated within the period.
”When we review and find books that are worthy of our list, we will also add them. That is why we have a fully equipped and well staffed Quality Assurance Department with experts and technocrats handling the job,” he said.
He disclosed that the Governor had given approval for recruitment of more teachers, saying the process was ongoing and would be completed soon.
Earlier, the Director, Quality Assurance Department of the Ministry, Mr Pius Ikwuje, said the department was saddled with the responsibility of reviewing books to be used in the state every five years.
He said that the committee set up for the exercise, was inaugurated on Feb. 7, 2022, after the approval of the commissioner.
He added that the committee invited publishers, authors, writers to submit their books; as well as experts and qualified teachers at all levels within and outside the state who reviewed the books.
Ikwuje said the books were reviewed for pre-nursery, nursery, primary and secondary schools and the report was compiled and vetted by the committee for approval of the commissioner.
In her vote of thanks, Mrs Ruth Opaluwa, the Ministry’s Desk Officer for Curriculum and Review, thanked the Commissioner for his full support, and commended the committee members for the success of the exercise.
