By EDDY OCHIGBO Kaduna-
Relevant stakeholders, Civil Society Organizations and the media in Kaduna State, have closed ranks to discuss strategies to strengthen fiscal transparency and quality service delivery in the state’s education sector, with special emphasis on enhancing girl-friendly and effective learning environment in the state.
NATIONAL ACCORD reports that Partnership to Engage Reform and Learn(PERL), in collaboration with the Kaduna State Basic Education Accountability Mechanism (KADBEAM), during the week in Zaria, put together a two-day stakeholders’ dialogue to present and discuss education scorecard on tracked UBE/SUBEB projects in the state.
While presenting the education scorecard at the event, Mr Joshua James, Co-chair, Open Budget Commitment of the Open Government Partnership(OGP), reiterated that the Kaduna state government has continued to back its commitment with action since the declaration of the state of emergency in the education sector.
He noted that the Governor Nasir el-Rufai-led administration has consistently allocated above 25% of its annual expenditure plan to the education sector to ensure access to inclusive education in the state.
“The Kaduna State Government through its Universal Basic Education Board (Kaduna SUBEB), is investing N8,601,812,779.20 in 2021 to improve infrastructure for basic education leveraging on the UBE projects co-financed by the State and the Federal Government’s Universal Basic Education Commission. The amount was for the rollover UBE projects from 2017 to 2019. However, according to the contract details, projects awarded so far in 2021 amounted to N4,287,321,470.31.
“The citizen group of Kaduna Basic Education Accountability Mechanism (KADBEAM), a co-creation accountability platform between government and civil society working around Education, have tracked the execution of some of the projects in 15 Local Government Areas of the state with the support from Partnership to Engage Reform and Learn, Engaged Citizens Pillar (PERL ECP). The LGAs are Birnin Gwari, Ikara, Jaba, Jema’a, Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Kachia, Kagarko, Kajuru, Kauru, Kubau, Kudan and Makarfi, Sanga and Zaria”, James revealed.
According to him, relevant information was sought from Kaduna SUBEB through Freedom of Information requests, personal visits to offices, contacts with Education Secretaries and School Based Management Committees leveraging on existing working relationships.
“A total of One Billion, Three Hundred and Twenty Million, Four Hundred and Twenty-six Thousand Six Hundred and Fifty-seven Naira, Fifty-six kobo (N1,320,426.657.56K) worth of projects were monitored and tracked, amounting to 31% of the total sum of projects awarded. The scorecard as it impacts on the girl-friendly learning environment in Kaduna state, was developed based on the findings from the tracking activities and visitations”, he stated.
Speaking on Public Procurement Reforms in Kaduna state, Head Emergency Intervention Unit of the Kaduna State Public Procurement Authority(KADPPA), Mr Ojeh Peter Onazi-Otsaje, emphasized the need for community dwellers to take ownership of projects in their respective communities, rather than looking the other way, when projects in their localities undergo shabby construction under their watch.
He said that when there are visible infractions by any contractor, KADPPA would not hesitate to apply sanctions which could even lead to blacklisting of such erring contractors.
Participants urged the Kaduna State Government to take the ongoing reforms in the state’s education sector to the next level by ensuring that the following guidelines are adhered to:
*timely releases and cash-backing of allocated funds to complete the 69% on-going projects;
*addressing blockages to fiscal transparency in the sector, especially in the delivery of projects;
*projects under the UBE program be implemented in a more transparent manner leveraging on the existing e-procurement solutions in line with the governments’ commitment to the Open Government Partnership and SFTAS;
*providing more gender-sensitive WASH facilities and sanitary supplies in schools to improve hygiene practices among girls. This will improve school attendance among girls and prevent open defecation;
*providing safe spaces in schools to ensure a safe and friendly learning environment for girls. The findings revealed only 7% of safe spaces available in schools;
*ensuring that school infrastructures at the basic level are inclusive, accessible and friendly to PWDs as findings show 74.4% projects do not have ramps; and
*mandating contractors to share relevant contract information with the beneficiaries of the projects, especially information on cost & description of the project for proper community monitoring.
These guidelines, the co-chair, explained, would go a long way in strengthening citizens participation and promote fiscal transparency and accountability in the delivery of education projects, as citizens at the community level and influencers would ensure that school facilities are protected against misuse.
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