Kwara State Government MayTake Over Funding Of Junior Secondary Education

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             As part of efforts to resolve salary crisis at the basic education level, the Kwara State Government is considering taking over the funding of Junior Secondary education from local government administration.

The government’s proposal is to separate funding of primary schools from junior secondary schools to reduce the financial burden of local government councils in the state.

This was one of the resolutions arrived at during the State Security Council meeting held at Council Chamber of the Government House, Ilorin on Tuesday.

The Council directed the state Ministry of Education to advice it on the financial implication of the action so that a decision can be taken on the issue.

The Council noted that although the payment of salaries to the basic education teachers remains the constitutional duty of the local government authorities, the persistent decline in federal allocation has constrained the third tier’s capacity to meet that obligation.

The Council also endorsed the state Joint Account Allocation Committee decision to make basic teachers’ salary a first line charge in the allocation distribution formula, stressing that this is already bringing some succour to the teachers