C’ttee advocates early budgeting cycle for education

In furtherance to efforts toward reposition the education sector in the FCT there is the need for an early budgeting cycle with full involvement of the department of policy planning, research and statistics, according to FCT Education Secretariat Management Committee.
Making the recommendation, the FCT Education Secretariat also affirmed that the administration will in 2019 adopt new measures to make the education sector more effective.
To demonstrate the new steps, the education secretariat at its just concluded two days retreat of education secretariat management committee, recommended for a condition survey of its facilities with a view to developing a Needs Assessment that will drive its budget projections.
The committee equally tasked FCT Department of Policy, Planning Research and Statistics on the production cost of training a child in the Federal Capital Territory.
In a communique signed by the Assistant Director in charge of Information at the secretariat, Mr. Tony Ogunleye said the Department of Quality Assurance has been directed to enforce the guidelines on the establishment and operations of educational Institutions in the Territory.
It explained that no school should start operating before registration with the Department, adding that Boards and Departments in the Education Secretariat should work harder at integrating and collaboration in the discharge of their mandates.
According to the communique, the Education Secretariat has recommended for a bi-annual retreat in its calendar of activities, with an intensified efforts on orientation of newly employed teachers.
Furthermore, the committee suggested that there should be an early budgeting cycle with full involvement of the Department of Policy Planning Research and Statistics, planning officers from boards and departments as well as school heads in the budgeting process should be intensified;

“Another recommendation reached at the meeting called for a quarterly report of their progress and challenges to management.

“Boards and Departments in charge of students’ admission are advised to devise means of ensuring that only children within the approved age specifications are admitted into FCT schools” the communique stressed.

The retreat which was held under the leadership of the Secretary, Dr. Bala Liman pledged the Secretariat’s commitment to completing all on-going projects at the permanent site of FCT College of Education Zuba to facilitate movement to the site.