The Bauchi State Government has launched a three-day intensive training programme for 30 primary school supervisors across the state, aimed at strengthening quality control and promoting data-driven decision-making in the education sector.
The training, taking place at the Smart School in Bauchi, forms part of the “Quality Education for Lifelong Learning (QELL)” project, spearheaded by Girls Education Mission International in partnership with the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), with support from the TY Danjuma Foundation.
Executive Director of Girls Education Mission International, Keturah Shamah, said the initiative seeks to improve supervisory capacity and ensure that education delivery is aligned with established performance benchmarks.
“This year, we are training 20 supervisors, one from each of the 20 local government areas, who will in turn pass on their knowledge to 50 others each, ultimately reaching more than 2,500 stakeholders across the state,” Shamah said.
She explained that although the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) had developed a supervisory checklist to guide oversight functions, many supervisors in Bauchi were either unaware of it or not applying it effectively. As a result, the training includes hands-on instruction on the use of the tool to support teacher monitoring and performance evaluations.
“Supervisors serve as the link between schools and government. They must be equipped to collect reliable data and ensure it is used to address issues such as infrastructure deficiencies, teacher absenteeism, and shortages of instructional materials,” she added.
Shamah pointed out that credible data is essential for planning, budgeting, and policy decisions, particularly by SUBEB.
“The SUBEB chairman cannot make decisions based on assumptions. It is the supervisor’s report that informs government action,” she remarked.
She further noted that the training will be followed by monitoring visits and accountability checks to ensure implementation, and that findings will be formally submitted to the state government for validation.
One of the participating supervisors, Ummi Maikudi from Toro Local Government Area, described the programme as an “eye-opener,” noting that although she had served in the role for two years, it was her first formal training on supervision and data handling.
“Now I understand the full weight of my responsibility. I supervise seven schools and over 50 teachers, and I’m returning to my post better prepared,” she said.
Maikudi expressed her commitment to applying the new skills acquired and praised SUBEB and its partners for creating opportunities to build supervisory competence in the state.