Chiedu Ebie, Delta State Commissioner for BSE

The Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Chiedu Ebie, has called for upward review of the capital budgetary provision for Technical and Vocational Educational Board from N750 million to N1.5 billion.

He  made the call during budget defence for 2019 fiscal year before the state House of Assembly in Asaba.

Abie said the upward review of budgetary provision for the sector would enable the ministry to accommodate the upgrade of additional technical colleges and establishment of new vocational centres.

The commissioner also requested an increase in the capital budget of Post Primary Education Board from N75 million to N150 million and that of SUPEB from N1.2 billion to N1.5 billion respectively.

Ebie noted that the ministry was saddled with the running of 1,124 primary schools, 465 secondary schools, six technical colleges, four vocational centres among others.

He said the 2018 approved capital budget of the ministry was N16.4 billion with total commitment of N18.7 billion as at October 2018 while the total money released to the ministry stood at N7.6 billion as at October 2018.

Ebie added that the ministry had executed 218 projects in 173 public schools, excluding the projects executed by parastatal agencies under the ministry.

The commissioner further said the ministry achieved 46.2 per cent performance in its capital budget as at August, adding that the ministry generated N200.6 million between January and September, but the ministry had an outstanding debt of N12.6 billion.

Ms Angela Nwaka, Chairman of Budget and Appropriation Committee, expressed delight on the ministry’s budget performance for the outgoing year.

She said the committee was well disposed to the presentation, adding that all the requests would be considered.

The chairman however, said upward reviews of budgetary provisions were not the challenge, adding that the capacity of the state to release such allocations must be considered.

“While we commend the commissioner and her team for their achievements in 2018, we however advise them to synergise with members of the House when executing projects in their constituencies. This collaboration would help to ensure proper supervision’’, she said.

Nwaka stressed the need for proper supervision of teachers and heads of schools to enhance academic standard in the state.

(NAN)