In Edo: How vandalism stalled Govt.’s primary schools computerisation policy

He, however, said that the board had re-strategised, by getting the communities involved in securing the facilities, through the constitution of Schools Basic Management Committees.

The Management of Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), has blamed the non- computerisation of primary schools in the state on rampant vandalism in the schools.

A member of the board, Mallam Ali Sule, stated this on Sunday in Benin in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Sule said that government had not reneged on its promise to computerise the primary schools in the 192 wards in the state.
``We discovered some security challenges that would militate against the implementation of government’s computerisation policy.

``This act of vandalism has slowed down government’s desire to provide schools with computers, to complement other state-of-the-art facilities already in place,’’ he said.

He, however, said that the board had re-strategised, by getting the communities involved in securing the facilities, through the constitution of Schools Basic Management Committees (SBMCs).

``We have started the sensitisation campaign, using members of the SBMCs, and letting the people know the implication of allowing these facilities to be vandalised.

``We have also started experimenting with some schools, by providing them with computers and safes to protect them.
“We have also employed some security personnel to guard the premises of such schools.

``Once this experiment is seen to be working, the policy will be fully implemented to fulfill the state government’s desire of ensuring solid basic education in Edo,’’ he said.

The board member further told NAN that the state government had also approved the payment of 40 per cent increase in the basic salary for teachers willing to work in the rural areas.

He said that the measure was to ensure that qualified teachers stayed in the rural areas in order to have high standard of basic education in every part of the state.