Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has abolished the payment of Parents Teachers Association,PTA, levy in all public primary schools across the state.
He announced annual school grants as a replacement to cover operational expenses.
The decision was disclosed in Ilorin by the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board,SUBEB, Prof. Shehu Raheem Adaramaja, during the formal bid opening for the third and fourth quarters of the 2024 Universal Basic Education Commission UBEC/SUBEB intervention projects.
Prof. Adaramaja explained that the directive covers all classes from Primary 1 to 6, adding that at least 1,717 public schools will benefit from the grants with immediate effect.
He stated that the governor has also approved the procurement of English and Mathematics textbooks to be distributed free of charge to pupils in public schools, as part of efforts to improve teaching and learning outcomes.
Highlighting the scope of the intervention projects, Prof. Adaramaja listed construction of classrooms with offices, VIP toilets, renovation and remodeling of existing blocks, drilling of solar-powered boreholes, rehabilitation of digital literacy centers, provision of foundational literacy materials, fabrication of two-seater furniture, and safe schools initiatives in selected local governments.
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The SUBEB chairman commended the AbdulRazaq administration for sustained investment in basic education, teacher welfare, and infrastructure, noting that counterpart funding for 2025 UBEC/SUBEB projects has already been approved to ensure continuity.
He urged contractors who will secure the contracts to adhere strictly to specifications, warning that shoddy work would not be accepted.
On behalf of the bidders, Secretary of the Indigenous Contractors Association, Alhaji Maroof Ahmed, expressed gratitude to the government for the transparent process and assured that members of the association will deliver quality jobs that meet required standards.
The move to scrap PTA levies represents a significant policy shift aimed at easing the financial burden on parents while ensuring that the state government assumes full responsibility for running public primary schools.
It aligns with ongoing reforms under KwaraLEARN, the education transformation programme designed to boost foundational learning, improve equity, and modernize public schooling across the state.
Crediblenewsng.com
