Gafar Alabi

The Ogun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) is the government agency responsible for the administration and development of public basic education in Ogun State. Established under the national Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme and backed by the UBE Act 2004 enacted by the National Assembly, the Board oversees primary and junior secondary schools to ensure the delivery of free, compulsory and quality education for all children.

At the federal level, the Act established the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to coordinate and support basic education nationwide. At the state level, SUBEB is charged with implementing UBE policies, managing and supervising schools, ensuring access to education and monitoring teachers, institutions and learning outcomes. Its mandate also includes the recruitment, training and supervision of teachers; provision and maintenance of infrastructure; distribution of learning materials; and collaboration with stakeholders to raise educational standards.

A key component of SUBEB’s responsibilities is data collection and planning, ensuring accurate educational data for policy formulation and decision-making. The Board also ensures adherence to curriculum standards and teaching methods while partnering with communities, non-governmental organisations and development partners to improve service delivery through interventions such as teacher training, digital learning and literacy initiatives. Monitoring plays a critical role in achieving quality education, particularly in public schools. Its importance cannot be overstated, as it directly contributes to improved learning outcomes and infrastructural development. Implementing policies without proper supervision is like laying a foundation and failing to build upon it.

Effective monitoring ensures that educational programmes translate into tangible results. Scholars have emphasised the importance of monitoring in performance management. Michael Armstrong describes monitoring as a core component of performance management, focusing on continuous assessment and feedback for improvement. Similarly, Robert J. Marzano links instructional monitoring with enhanced classroom effectiveness and improved student achievement.

Monitoring involves the systematic collection and analysis of data on teaching quality, student performance, attendance, infrastructure and resource utilisation. Its primary aim is to identify strengths, detect challenges early and provide timely feedback for improvement.

Globally, countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Germany and France have demonstrated that effective monitoring systems, whether centralised or decentralised, are essential for maintaining quality, accountability and continuous improvement in education.

Closely related to monitoring is evaluation, which focuses on assessing outcomes. Evaluation uses evidence such as test results, feedback and performance indicators to determine what works and what does not. Together, monitoring and evaluation strengthen policy implementation, promote accountability and enhance service delivery. While monitoring ensures that activities are carried out as planned, evaluation determines their impact, creating a feedback loop for continuous improvement.

When the current administration of Ogun SUBEB, led by Evangelist Olalekan Ifede, assumed office on 7 July 2025, one of its key priorities was to ensure that pupils in public primary schools can read, write and communicate effectively. To achieve this, the Board, in collaboration with UBEC, organised various training programmes, including Jolly Phonics, aimed at improving pupils’ literacy skills. A large number of teachers were trained and subsequently cascaded the training to others, significantly enhancing classroom instruction.

Before the introduction of the Jolly Phonics programme, it was estimated that about 70 per cent of learners struggled with basic literacy skills. However, following the training and subsequent monitoring exercises across the state’s three senatorial districts, there has been a noticeable transformation. Many pupils who previously could not read or write effectively are now showing significant improvement, demonstrating the impact of both training and monitoring.

The monitoring exercises covered key areas such as teacher performance and punctuality, curriculum delivery, pupil engagement, availability and use of instructional materials, and the condition of school infrastructure. Record-keeping and administrative efficiency were also evaluated to ensure effective school management.

The results have been remarkable. There has been a visible improvement in educational standards across public primary schools in Ogun State. Community leaders in areas such as Igbokofi and Oke-Ola in Yewa North Local Government Area have commended SUBEB’s leadership for its commitment to improving education. Similar positive feedback has been recorded across other parts of the state.

These achievements have been made possible through strong collaboration with UBEC and the support of key stakeholders, including Education Secretaries, School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs), Parent Clubs, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the Association of Primary School Headteachers of Nigeria (APSHON), the Association of Primary School Teachers of Nigeria (APTSON) and host communities. Their active participation has strengthened accountability and improved supervision across schools. Additionally, intervention projects executed by contractors have been closely monitored to ensure quality and durability.

Furthermore, monitoring has enabled the Board to identify critical gaps and areas requiring attention, thereby improving decision-making processes. Despite existing challenges, the Board has continued to make steady progress and remains committed to sustaining these gains through continuous training of monitoring officers, provision of logistics and strengthening feedback mechanisms. The leadership of Evangelist Olalekan Ifede has justified the confidence reposed in him by the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun. With the Governor’s support and the commitment of stakeholders, monitoring has become the backbone of Ogun SUBEB’s achievements, driving progress and ensuring the sustainability of quality education in the state.

As Ogun State looks to the future, it is imperative that successive administrations sustain and build upon the solid foundation laid by the current SUBEB leadership. Effective monitoring is no longer optional; it is essential. It has come to stay and must be continuously strengthened to ensure lasting improvements in the education sector.