NSF Developments Limited was commissioned to support the strengthening of Quality Assurance process and system at the basic educational level as part of implementing the World Bank funded State Education Programme Investment Project (SEPIP) in Borno State. The process commenced with a ten-day training of twenty Quality Assurance Evaluators (QAEs) as Master Trainers (MTs). The ten-day training took place at the NSF Training Centre in Abuja from 28th October- 7th November 2019.
The Borno State Government is determined to improve the learning outcomes of their students through the effective delivery of high standard of teaching and learning activities at the basic education sub-sector. As a result, twenty Quality Assurance Evaluators (QAEs) were identified and trained as Master Trainers (MTs) for the State. The MTs will train and support eighty School Support Officers (SSOs) who will train and support Head Teachers in the State to conduct School Self-Evaluation (SSE). This is to create a cadre of trainers who would support the effective implementation of the National Standards for Quality Assurance in the Borno state in a sustainable manner.
At the training, the MTs were taken through the key concepts of Quality Assurance and got first-hand experience in conducting External Evaluation (EE) through a two-day practicum in selected public primary schools in Abuja. NSF facilitators modeled good QA practice with the expectation that the MTs would use the same methods to cascade the training to SSOs in the State.
Group photograph of participants and organizers at the NSF Developments Training Centre.
The QA system’s reform process continued with a follow up training of 80 SSOs from 18 – 29 November 2019 in Borno State. The Borno State Universal Basic Education Board (BOSUBEB) coordinated the training facilitated by the MTs and monitored by NSF staff in two locations:- Maiduguri and Biu centers. Fifty-five SSOs from eighteen Local Government Education Authorities (LGEAs) convened at the Maiduguri Centre, while twenty-five SSOs from nine LGEAs were at the Biu Centre, from the 18th to 29th of November 2019.
On arrival in Maiduguri, NSF Developments Limited Team visited the SEPIP office to meet with officials and then proceeded to the office of the Director, Quality Assurance in BOSUBEB on a courtesy visit. During both engagements NSF Developments explained the training methodology and the expected outcomes of the intervention.
Through a blended approach of lectures, activity-based learning and practicum, the training objectives were delivered. In the first week of training, trainers applied a theoretical approach, while in the second week, the training had a more practical approach to Quality Assurance where participants visited schools to conduct school evaluation, they prepared the school evaluation reports and were coached on the report writing process. The External Evaluation (EE) process emphasized: how to examine school documents in order to find evidence; conduct lesson observation, provide feedback to head teachers, and school planning.
A group of SSOs being trained in Maiduguri by MTs.
The project provided yet another opportunity to equip the eighty SSOs with the necessary knowledge and skills on Education Quality Assurance processes and practices. The support is expected to strengthen QA systems and processes to ensure schools are effective and that they deliver good quality teachers and learning.
The next stage in the reform process is that SSOs will cascade the training to eight hundred and fifty-four head teachers and provide support in conducting School Self Evaluations (SSEs) which will be used to develop the State of Education Report for Borno State. NSF Developments will continue ot mentor and suport the Quality Assurance Officer to visit schools and support effectiveness.
