Ministry of Education and Knowledge Management

Headed by: Frederick Ikyaan
Address: Benue State Secretariat, Abu Obe Road, High Level. P.M.B 102002, Makurdi, Benue State.

1.1  Benue State Ministry of Education (as was known then) came into existence in 1976 at the inception of Benue State. In 2015, it was merged with the Ministry of Science and Technology, as such, it was renamed Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. However, there was a need to split the ministry again in 2019 and therefore it was split with the Ministry of Education parting ways with Science and Technology. Ministry of Education is essentially a service ministry. Education is the largest industry in the State and plays a vital and strategic role in its socioeconomic and political advancement.

2.0 VISION STATEMENT

2.1  To deliver gender-friendly educational services that support equitable and quality education for all Benue Citizens.

3.1  To ensure accessible, equitable, qualitative and gender-responsive functional education at all levels in Benue State through a strong database, strong educational governance networking and sustainable funding.

4.0  STRUCTURE

4.1  The Ministry is headed by a Commissioner, with the Permanent Secretary as the Administrative Head and is made up of ten departments viz:

  1. Department of Planning, Research and Statistics (DPRS)
  2. Department of Secondary Education (DSE)
  3. Department of Quality Assurance (DQA)
  4. Department of Science and Technology (DSTE)
  5. Department of Tertiary Education (DTE)
  6. Department of Education Support Services (DESS)
  7. Department of Primary and Special Education (DPSE)
  8. Department of Finance and Accounts (DFA)
  9. Department of Administration and Supply (DAS)

Each department is headed by a Director who is responsible to the Permanent Secretary.

5.0  AGENCIES/PARASTATALS UNDER THE MINISTRY

5.1  There are five parastatals under the Ministry, these are:

  1. Teaching Service Board (TSB)
  2. State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB)
  3. Benue State Examination Board (BSEB)
  4. Adult and Non-Formal Education Agency (ANFEA)
  5. Benue State Scholarship Board (BSSB)
  6. Benue State Technical Education Board (BSTEB)

5.2  The tertiary institutions over which the Ministry has cabinet responsibility are:

  1. Benue State University, Makurdi
  2. Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo
  3. College of Education, Katsina-Ala
  4. College of Education, Oju
  5. Alfred Akawe Torkula Polytechnic, Makurdi (Recently upgraded)
  6. Akperan Orshi Polytechnic of Agriculture, Yandev (Recently upgraded)

To ensure that quality education delivery in the State, the Ministry also oversees the activities of privately owned institutions within the State.

6.0  FUNCTIONS OF THE MINISTRY

6.1  The main function of the Ministry is the management of Education in the State which includes:

  1. Policy formulation, adaptation and implementation
  2. Supervision and Control of Education
  3. Setting Quality Standards
  4. Monitoring and Evaluation
  5. Coordination of educational activities and programs.
  6. Encourage the acquisition and transfer of appropriate technology for development.
  7. Liaise with Ministries and parastatals in matters relating to the development and application of science and technology.
  8. Development and enhancement of indigenous capacity in ICT.
  9. Ensure a sustainable mechanism for adequate funding for science and technology activities through national and international funding agencies.
  10. Identify priority areas in the state for the application of science and technology.

7.0  MAJOR ACTIVITIES 

7.1  The Ministry engages in the following activities among others;

  1. To ensure the improvement and maintenance of quality teaching and learning through review of school curricula, organization of workshops for teachers and promotion of the learning of science in our schools.
  2. The Ministry is primarily the quality control laboratory of the State charged with the responsibility of inspecting, supervising and monitoring schools to ensure the setting and maintenance of standards of education at all levels (of education) in the State.
  3. Carries out research through the collection and analysis of statistical data.
  4. The Ministry directly awards contracts for capital projects to ensure school-friendly environments and implements policies on Special Education, Mass Literacy as well as Girl-Child Education.
  5. Represents the State Government at the National Council on Education (NCE) and Joint Consultative policy-making bodies.
  6. It also provides access and equity to Benue Children through scholarship awards regulated by the Scholarship Board.
  7. Establishes viable links between the State Government and organized private sector in the development and application of science and technology.
  8. Promotes access to high-quality ICT services and related areas.
  9. Organizes and conducts seminars, workshops and other programs for the popularization and promotion of science and technology activities

8.0  NUMBER OF SCHOOLS

8.1  The state has a total number of six thousand eight hundred eighty-three (6883)  schools.

9.0  FUNCTIONS OF THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS

9.1  Department of Administration and Supply (DAS)

This department is headed by a Director of Administration and supply. It was created to assist the state Government to achieve its aims and objectives in policy implementation in the Ministry. The department takes care of the general administration of the ministry, oversees the activities of the other departments and handles matters of vehicles and their maintenance as well as issues of security for the Ministry.

Besides the above, the other functions of the departments are thus:

  1. To coordinate the activities of all the other departments bringing them together to function as one.
  2. To recruit, promote and discipline staff of the ministry.
  3. To train and see to the welfare of staff of the ministry.
  4. To interpret rules and policy circulars that relate to human resources.
  5. To procure and store property of the Ministry.
  6. Collation and dissemination of information;
  7. Ensuring the security of the Ministry’s property.

10.0  DEPARTMENT OF SECONDARY EDUCATION (DSE)

The Department is headed by a Director.

10.1  The main functions of the department include;

  1. Ensuring the implementation of the whole school evaluation (WSE) recommendations.
  2. Collaboration with relevant MDAs to organize school sports.
  3. Ensure the provision of guidance and counselling services in schools.
  4. Implements student’s Exchange Programmes
  5. Coordinate the activities of all stakeholders in education e.g. NUT, ANCOPSS, APSHON, PM, Old Students
  6. Ensure the establishment and development of school farms.
  7. Represents the Ministry on Teaching Service Board and the State Examinations Board.
  8. Ensures the establishment of functional school Based Management Committees (SBMCs) in all Post Primary Schools.
  9. Represents the Ministry at the State and National WAEC committee meetings.
  10. Monitors and supports academic activities in schools.
  11. Performs any other functions as may from time be assigned by the Commissioner for Education.

11.0  DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING, RESEARCH AND STATISTICS (DPRS)

11.1  The Department is headed by a Director and carries out the following functions;

  1. The planning and determining Areas of the Educational Manpower Development and Training needs of the Ministry.
  2. Mapping of Schools
  3. Project designing and costing, materials/facilities in liaison with other departments and experts from the Ministry of works, Land and Survey.
  4. Processing of applications for establishments of schools in the state.
  5. Collecting and analyzing Data from Schools for Use in educational Policy making.
  6. Planning, evaluating and monitoring schools projects and programmes.
  7. Preparing and reviewing the National Development/Rolling plan of the Ministry.
  8. Coordination the Budget proposals of the Ministry
  9. Identifying relevant research areas of the Ministry and conducting research into such areas..
  10. Serving as secretariat and representative of the Ministry at the National Council of on Education. (NCE), Joint consultative council on Education (JCCE), the state education sector analysis (ENA), Education for all (EFA) and
  11. Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).
  12. Provide ICT services.
  13. Coordinates all UN assisted projects to the Ministry.

12.0  DEPARTMENT OF TERTIARY EDUCATION (DTE)

12.0  The department is headed by a Director and  has the following functions:

  1. To monitor all the state and private owned tertiary institutions, to ensure that they operate strictly in line with the national regulatory bodies.
  2. To ensure that the standard of education in the state is not compromised.
  3. To ensure that placement of both staff in the students conform to the laid down rules.
  4. To ensure that no illegal school operates in the state.

AGENCIES UNDER MoE

1.  AGENCY FOR ADULT AND NON-FORMAL EDUCATION

The Benue State Agency for Adult and Non-formal Education was established in 1990. The Agency was later on given legal backing by an enabling Edict No. 2 of 1991.

FUNCTIONS

The Agency is responsible for the provision of all forms of mass literacy, and adult and non-formal education programmes to youths and adult citizens of Benue State and beyond. The Agency’s activities are therefore organized to eradicate illiteracy in addition to creating sustained awareness for the overall development of the State. Finally, the Agency is also charged with the responsibility of organizing, coordinating, supervising and regulating mass literacy programmes organized by local governments, individuals and NGOs in the State

SET UP

The Agency has four departments namely:

  1. Department of Administration and Finance (A&F)
  2. Department of Basic, Post Literacy and Public Enlightenment (BP&PE)
  3. Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (PME)
  4. Department of Vocational and Continuing Education (CVE)

2.  BENUE STATE TEACHING SERVICE BOARD

The Benue State Teaching Service Board was established by Education Law amendment Edict No. 25 of 1988. Her functions as contained in the Edict include:

  1. The power of appointment, promotion, posting, transfer, change of Cadre, transfer of Service and similar staff matters affecting teaching and non-teaching staff in post-primary institutions that are being controlled by the Board.
  2. The power of promotion of staff welfare.
  3. The power to exercise disciplinary control over the staff including the power to dismiss, terminate or otherwise remove from the service of the Board.
  4. The power to ensure the existence of and support for Parent Teacher Association, school committees and Board of Governors.

3.  BENUE STATE UNIVERSAL BASIC EDUCATION BOARD (SUBEB)

The Board came into being 1994 under decree No. 96 of 1994 to pilot affairs of primary education in the state. Before the establishment of the board, the state of primary schools in the state was very deplorable. The school structure were Dilapidated, teacher were demoralized as their salaries were not paid for months and the pupils were running away to the private schools where they could get some form of learning. At the inception of the board in 1994, it took a critical look at the sorry state of the primary school and went into action with determination and absolute commitment to totally overhaul, resuscitate, revamp and sustain the primary education system in the state. This was to restore public confidence in the primary schools. The bill was subsequently passed, changing the status to State Universal Basic education Board.

4.  BENUE STATE EXAMINATIONS BOARD

FUNCTIONS OF THE BOARD

  1. The general control and conduct of the following examinations:
  2. Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for students in basic 9 formally known as JSS 3.
  3. Federal Craft Certificate Examinations (FCCE) for final year students in Technical colleges.
  4. External Basic Education Certificate Examination for students of Continuing Education Centres which are coordinated by the Adult and Non-Formal Education Agency (ANFEA).

DEPARTMENTS

The Board has three functional Departments, namely;

  1. Administration and Finance
  2. Examinations
  3. Planning, Research, Statistics, and Computer.

Benue State Ministry Of Education directs the formulation and implementation of education policies. It controls the development and administration of Benue State government and government aided primary, secondary and tertiary schools or institutions. The ministry operates in close partnership with communities, private sector and voluntary agencies such as:

  1. The Federal Ministry of Education.
  2. The Tertiary Education Trust Funds, TETfund.
  3. Universities Commission and Development Partners amongst others.

Structure:

The ministry is aimed at facilitating and enhancing the smooth administration of the day-to-day operations of the personnel, institutions and agencies involved in service delivery and projects execution. It also registers private schools based on set standards.

The ministry has Nine departments, Seven of these are professional departments while Two are service delivery departments. Below are the departments:

  1. Science and Technology Education.
  2. Education Support Services.
  3. Quality Assurance.
  4. Planning Research and Statistics.
  5. Secondary Education.
  6. Special Education.
  7. Tertiary Education.
  8. Administration and Supplies.
  9. Finance and Accounts.

Functions of the department:

  1. Provision of basic or primary level of education.
  2. Provision of secondary level and ICT education.
  3. The ministry checks the standard of education.
  4. The ministry also provides and supervises adult education.
  5. The ministry affects the populace in every aspects and stages through basic literacy and post literacy.
  6. It ensures platforms for women education programs and mass media education.
  7. The ministry manages the relationship of stakeholders for efficiency and correspondence.

Agencies under Benue State Ministry Of Education:

  1. State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBUB.
  2. Benue State Teaching Service Board, TSB.
  3. Benue State Scholarship Board, BSSB.
  4. Benue State Examination Board, BSEB.
  5. Agency For Adult And Non-Formal Education, ANFEA.

Tertiary Institutions:

Benue State University, Makurdi.

College Of Education, Katsina-Ala.

College Of Education, Oju.

Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo.

College Of Advance And Professional Studies, Makurdi.