By Rosemary Okoduwa
The Directorate of Education Quality and Accountability (DEQA), Edo State, has appealed to the 18 Local Government Council Chairmen for support in providing office accommodation for its personnel across the state to strengthen grassroots monitoring and improve education standards.
The DG, Dr Amen Ogbemudia made the appeal during the October Joint Account Committee (JAC) meeting of the 18 Local Government Councils held in Benin City. She congratulated the council chairmen on their assumption of office and called for their commitment to strengthening education delivery through effective collaboration with DEQA.
Dr Ogbemudia, who appreciated the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for providing the platform for the engagement, emphasised that quality education could not be achieved by the state government alone, stressing the need for collaboration among local governments and other education stakeholders.
She explained that DEQA is responsible for promoting and monitoring education quality and accountability across public and private schools within its mandate, including monitoring teaching and learning, teacher and pupil attendance, school facilities, compliance with educational standards and the overall quality of education delivery. She reiterated the Directorate’s commitment to professionalism, equity, accountability, integrity and excellence, declaring that “Quality is not negotiable.”
The DG specifically sought the chairmen’s assistance in providing suitable office accommodation for DEQA personnel in all 18 local government areas, noting that the initiative would bring the Directorate’s operations closer to schools, improve monitoring activities and ensure prompt responses to educational challenges at the grassroots. She also called for sustained collaboration through information sharing, regular engagements and coordinated efforts to improve school standards and learning outcomes.
Responding, the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Edo State chapter, who is also the Chairman of Etsako East Local Government Area, Rt. Hon. Sunny Ekpetika Ekpeson, appreciated the DEQA Director-General for the initiative and assured her that the requests would be given due consideration. He noted that the requests were not for personal benefits but were aimed at improving the future of Edo children, who represent the hope and future of the state.
Dr Ogbemudia further urged the council chairmen to see themselves as critical partners in the collective responsibility of building stronger schools, supporting teachers, improving learning conditions and securing a brighter future for children across Edo State.
She expressed appreciation to the Honourable Commissioner for the opportunity to engage the council chairmen and reiterated DEQA’s readiness to work closely with the 18 local government councils, stressing that sustainable improvements in education quality could only be achieved through collective commitment and collaboration.
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