‎MUTFWANG FLAGS OFF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, 19 BUSES, DIGITAL DEVICES FOR PLATEAU BASIC SCHOOLS‎

...says the state is investing N10 billion in basic education

Executive Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, Esq, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to repositioning basic education as the foundation for sustainable development, with the flag-off of the distribution of teaching and learning materials, 19 buses, digital devices and a two-day capacity-building workshop under the HOPE-EDU Programme.

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‎Governor Mutfwang made this declaration on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at the headquarters of the Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board (PSUBEB), Jos, during the ceremony marking the distribution of the educational resources and the rollout of computers and tablets to strengthen basic education delivery across the state.

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‎Describing the intervention as more than a ceremonial exercise, the Governor said it represented a deliberate step in his administration’s policy to ensure that every Plateau child has access to relevant, safe and quality basic education. 

He explained that the government’s decision to clear outstanding counterpart funding obligations to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) had enabled the state to unlock critical interventions for the sector.

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‎Mutfwang disclosed that Plateau State was now among the states in Nigeria up to date with its UBEC counterpart obligations, following the clearance of outstanding payments inherited from 2022 and 2023. 

He said the state was also preparing to make its 2026 counterpart contribution, which, alongside other interventions, would translate into an investment of more than N10 billion in basic education.

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‎The Governor said the 19 buses being deployed to the education system would strengthen school supervision, monitoring and the distribution of educational resources, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach communities. He charged Education Secretaries and Local Government Education Authorities to ensure that the vehicles were deployed strictly for their intended purposes, properly maintained and safeguarded as public assets.

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‎Mutfwang also challenged teachers to raise the standard of instruction, particularly in English Language and Mathematics, stressing that strong foundational learning was essential to the academic development of children. 

He directed the Commissioner for Education and PSUBEB management to develop a deliberate programme to improve teachers’ capacity in English Language delivery, while urging the Nigeria Union of Teachers and other stakeholders to support efforts to strengthen teaching standards and restore confidence in public schools.

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‎The Governor, who recalled his experience as a beneficiary of public education, said the quality of foundational learning has a direct bearing on a child’s ability to understand other subjects. He declared: “We are not sacking people, but we will push you to the point that you must raise the bar to a basic minimum standard.”

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‎He further disclosed that more than 1,200 classrooms had been renovated across the 17 Local Government Areas in the past three years, stressing that infrastructure must be complemented by quality teaching, teacher welfare, appropriate learning materials and conducive learning environments. 

He also announced a renewed campaign to increase enrolment in public schools and called on traditional and religious leaders, parents, communities and civil society organisations to help remove barriers to education.

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‎The Governor directed Education Secretaries to regard their positions as field responsibilities rather than office appointments, charging them to regularly visit schools and ensure that teaching is carried out properly with the right materials and at the appropriate time. 

He also announced that future recruitment under the HOPE-EDU Programme would give special consideration to rural postings, with improved incentives for teachers serving in underserved communities.

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‎Speaking on accountability, Mutfwang insisted that every resource provided under the intervention must translate into measurable improvements in learning outcomes. He called on teachers, parents, traditional leaders, lawmakers, communities and development partners to work with government to build a stronger public education system capable of securing a brighter future for every Plateau child.

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‎In his address, the Executive Chairman of PSUBEB, Sunday Samuel Amuna, disclosed that the intervention included 296,765 core textbooks in Mathematics, English Language, Basic Science and Computer Studies, 19,905 copies of curriculum materials, and 34,590 core textbooks, including computers, procured under the 2025 Basic Education Advancement Programme. He added that the intervention also included 67,200 teachers’ guides, 30,000 Early Grade Reading textbooks, 15 sewing and knitting machines and 1,000 sanitary pads for distribution to schools.

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‎Amuna explained that the materials were designed to strengthen classroom instruction, lesson planning, literacy and numeracy, while the buses would expand the operational reach of education officials. He urged Education Secretaries and LGEA officials to protect the assets and ensure their effective utilisation for the benefit of schools and learners.

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‎Earlier, the Plateau State HOPE Project Coordinator, Mr. Aliyu Baba, said the intervention builds on the recruitment and deployment of 1,500 teachers across the 17 Local Government Areas, as well as improvements in school infrastructure. 

He explained that the provision of laptops and tablets to Education Secretaries and EMIS officers, alongside the two-day training on the Trace and Track (TnT) Management System, would strengthen data management, asset tracking, monitoring and accountability in the education sector.

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‎The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Hon. Maren Ishaku Yobo, described the TnT system as an important complement to the ministry’s monitoring and evaluation responsibilities, while the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Gloria Karuri, affirmed the ministry’s commitment to ensuring that the investments translate into measurable improvements in learning outcomes, teacher support and accountability.

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‎The event was attended by government functionaries, traditional leaders, education stakeholders and other partners, who witnessed the flag-off of the educational materials, commissioning of the 19 buses, rollout of computers and tablets, and commencement of the capacity-building workshop.

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‎Gyang Bere, PhD

‎Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Executive Governor of Plateau State

‎September 9, 2026