A participatory three-day workshop and advocacy meeting on the domestication of the School-Based Management Policy in Abia State, with the theme “Strengthening School-Based Management Committees for Improved Educational Governance in Abia State through the Domestication of the School-Based Management Policy, has ended in Umuahia, the Abia State Capital.
Addressing participants, the Executive Chairman of the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Lady Mrs. Ezihe Lydia Onuoha, disclosed that Abia State Government has commenced the process of domesticating the National School-Based Management Committee (SBMC) policy to enhance educational governance and strengthen community involvement in schools.
Lady Onuoha, pointed out that the workshop would develop an Abia State SBMC policy aligned with national standards while considering the peculiarities of the state.
She reiterated the commitment of the State government towards strengthening community involvement in education and improving learning outcomes across Abia.
According to her, the domestication process, seeks to foster a strong working relationship between schools and their host communities, encourage parental participation in their children’s education, ensure the security of school properties, as well as promote collaboration between Parents, Schools, and Teachers.
While pointing out that the three-day workshop would facilitate the development of a framework for the domestication of the NSBMC policy in Abia State, it described the effort as a significant milestone in Abia State’s educational reforms.
The ASUBEB Chairman expressed confidence that by the end of the workshop, stakeholders would produce a comprehensive document that will serve as the foundation for the state’s SBMC policy and lauded the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, his Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs counterpart and other partnering MDAs, for their invaluable support.
In his speech, the Commissioner for the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Chinedu Ubochi, represented by the Director of Inspectorate, Pastor Umunna Ijeoma, commended Governor Alex Chioma Otti, for his transformational leadership in education.
He also commended the Executive Chairman of ASUBEB for organizing the landmark workshop that encourages community participation and urged the committee to expedite efforts to complete the Abia State SBMC policy document framework in the shortest possible time.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Uzor Nwachukwu, represented by Mrs. Ngozi Akpara, applauded Governor Alex Otti for his unwavering commitment to education and the ASUBEB Chairman for her relentless efforts in reshaping schools across the state.
Contributing, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Policies and Interventions, Rev. Fr. Dr. Anokwuru Christian represented by Mr Joshua Moses, was hopeful that the workshop would provide a roadmap for the domestication of the National SBMC Policy in Abia State as well as foster a strong and productive relationship between schools and the communities.
Baring their minds, the Policy Reforms Advisor and workshop facilitator, Jummai Sarki, and Abia Policy Innovation Centre, Researcher and workshop facilitator Mr. Joshua Moses Ogbada, outlined the key objectives of the domestication process to include: Increasing awareness of the benefits of school-based management policy domestication, enhancing commitment to integrating SBMC policies into operational frameworks, clarifying the roles and responsibilities of school management committees, local education authorities, and the community in school governance.
Others are strengthening collaboration between schools, communities, and government institutions to improve educational service delivery, developing a roadmap with practical steps, timelines, and responsible entities and Identifying funding sources and support mechanisms for effective implementation.
The rest include establishing strategies for accountability and transparency as well as achieving consensus on institutional structures to support policy domestication.
The three-day workshop declared attracted the presence of notable Board members, participants, and Stakeholders.
