Kwara State Government has stated that it is no longer permissible to charge or collect the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) levy across public primary schools in the state.
The government therefore approved annual school grants for the schools to replace the PTA levy and serve as their running costs.
The Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof Shehu Raheem Adaramaja, disclosed on Thursday in Ilorin, the state capital.
Prof Adaramaja was speaking at the bid opening for the 2024 (3rd and 4th quarters) UBEC/SUBEB intervention projects.
“The Governor has approved the stoppage of the payment of PTA in all public primary schools in the state. From primary 1 to 6, no more payment of PTA in Kwara State,” he said, announcing the immediate flag off of disbursement of grants for at least 1,717 public schools.
Adaramaja further announced the approval of the procurement of English and Maths textbooks by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, which he said, will be distributed free of charge to the pupils of primary 1 to 6 across the state.
Speaking on the bid opening, the Chairman said the intervention would cover critical projects, including the construction of a block of two classrooms with an office, construction of VIP toilets, remodeling and renovation of classrooms, drilling of solar powered borehole with tank stand, rehabilitation of digital literacy across the state, procurement of foundation literacy teaching and learning materials for primary one, fabrication and distribution of 2 seater pupils/students’ furniture, and safe schools initiative in some selected local governments, among others.
Commending the government for investing in school infrastructure, human capital development, and the welfare of teachers, Adaramaja disclosed that the Governor has equally approved the payment of 2025 counterpart funds for the UBEC/SUBEB intervention projects.
He then urged contractors, who will eventually get the jobs, to execute them in line with the specifications, warning that shoddy jobs will not be condoned.
Prof Adaramaja hailed the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Hajiya Aisha Garba, and other key stakeholders for contributing to the success of the program.
Responding on behalf of the bidders, Maroof Ahmed, who is the Secretary for the Indigenous Contractors Association, thanked the government for giving their members an opportunity to showcase their talents.
He pledged that their members will deliver quality services and will not let the government and the people of the state down.
Credit: Atere Ameenat Abiola
