MUTFWANG FLAGS OFF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, 19 BUSES, DIGITAL DEVICES FOR PLATEAU BASIC SCHOOLS

MUTFWANG FLAGS OFF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, 19 BUSES, DIGITAL DEVICES FOR PLATEAU BASIC SCHOOLS

…says the state is investing N10 billion in basic education

Executive Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, Esq, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to repositioning basic education as the foundation for sustainable development, with the flag-off of the distribution of teaching and learning materials, 19 buses, digital devices and a two-day capacity-building workshop under the HOPE-EDU Programme.

Governor Mutfwang made this declaration on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at the headquarters of the Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board (PSUBEB), Jos, during the ceremony marking the distribution of the educational resources and the rollout of computers and tablets to strengthen basic education delivery across the state.

Describing the intervention as more than a ceremonial exercise, the Governor said it represented a deliberate step in his administration’s policy to ensure that every Plateau child has access to relevant, safe and quality basic education.

He explained that the government’s decision to clear outstanding counterpart funding obligations to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) had enabled the state to unlock critical interventions for the sector.

Mutfwang disclosed that Plateau State was now among the states in Nigeria up to date with its UBEC counterpart obligations, following the clearance of outstanding payments inherited from 2022 and 2023.

He said the state was also preparing to make its 2026 counterpart contribution, which, alongside other interventions, would translate into an investment of more than N10 billion in basic education.

The Governor said the 19 buses being deployed to the education system would strengthen school supervision, monitoring and the distribution of educational resources, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach communities. He charged Education Secretaries and Local Government Education Authorities to ensure that the vehicles were deployed strictly for their intended purposes, properly maintained and safeguarded as public assets.

Mutfwang also challenged teachers to raise the standard of instruction, particularly in English Language and Mathematics, stressing that strong foundational learning was essential to the academic development of children.

He directed the Commissioner for Education and PSUBEB management to develop a deliberate programme to improve teachers’ capacity in English Language delivery, while urging the Nigeria Union of Teachers and other stakeholders to support efforts to strengthen teaching standards and restore confidence in public schools.

The Governor, who recalled his experience as a beneficiary of public education, said the quality of foundational learning has a direct bearing on a child’s ability to understand other subjects. He declared: “We are not sacking people, but we will push you to the point that you must raise the bar to a basic minimum standard.”

He further disclosed that more than 1,200 classrooms had been renovated across the 17 Local Government Areas in the past three years, stressing that infrastructure must be complemented by quality teaching, teacher welfare, appropriate learning materials and conducive learning environments.

He also announced a renewed campaign to increase enrolment in public schools and called on traditional and religious leaders, parents, communities and civil society organisations to help remove barriers to education.

The Governor directed Education Secretaries to regard their positions as field responsibilities rather than office appointments, charging them to regularly visit schools and ensure that teaching is carried out properly with the right materials and at the appropriate time.