The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in the State has the statutory responsibility of initiating, formulating and implementation of general policies and strategies of the State Government in the Education sector. These policies and strategies are tailored towards achieving the goals and objectives set by the State Government. The State Government has the primary and social responsibility of providing affordable qualitative and quantitative education to its citizenry through the Ministry of Education. Towards this end and after much investigation and research on the present situation of the sector, the Ministry came up with the “reform agenda” which aims at salvaging the sector from total collapse.

The achievements of His Excellency, Dr. Bukola Saraki since May 2008 – May 2009 which are in line with these reforms are therefore as follows:-

Directorate of Schools and Colleges 

• Sponsoring of students for local, state and national competition to develop their potentials
• Even distribution of teachers within the state at various primary and secondary schools in each Local Government Area of the State.
• Retraining of the French Teachers in the State on the recommended French Literatures texts and on “aural” comprehension and oral expression aspect of the French syllabus.
• Printing of registrations forms and gazette for teachers within the state.
• Inauguration of Teachers Investigation Panel for the teachers in the state.
• Financial assistance and provision of educational materials for the activities and feeding subvention of the handicapped pupils at the Kwara State School for the Handicapped.
• Payment of Teachers salary Allowance in fulfillment of the 271/2 % increase in Teachers emolument has been approved.
• Organization of merit Award for deserving teachers, students and schools.
• Organization of Governor’s Cup Debate competition.
• Procurement of teaching aids for the handicapped.
• Construction of a block of classrooms in Sharki Nomadic primary school, Moro LGA.
• Conduct of Teachers Development Needs Assessment Test for all Basic school Teachers the result showed that most of our teachers are of low quality. The way forward    adopted by the Ministry is to train our teachers in their areas of deficiencies, beginning with Head teachers. The training had commenced.

Directorate of Higher Institutions

• Turn-around of College of Education, Oro has reached an advanced stage. Courses and staff have been rationalized while admissions of students are now based purely on merit. Apart from scoring very high marks in JAMB, candidates are now subjected to another Local Examination before successful ones finally emerge.
• College of Education, Ilorin now concentrates on the running of IJMB and Remedial programmes to prepare indigenes of the state for higher education.
• Kwara State University has been established. It would take off in September 2009. So far, the sum of N32,000,000:00 has been committed on the programme to date while another N4.2 billion has been approved for the realization of the university.
• Kwara State Polytechnic has commenced programmes that would put emphasis onto Science and Technology as against the Arts courses that had dominated the programmes of the institution.
• The State Scholarship Board had disbursed the sum of N100million as 2006/2007 Bursary Awards while another N26.4million has been disbursed to Kwara State indigenes in Nigeria law schools as special financial aid. In addition N16.7million had been spent and providing the E – payment facilities at the Board.
• The state government had released the sum of N30million to the3Nos Colleges of Education for the re-accreditation of their courses by the NCCE.

Directorate of Science and Technology 

Science Division

• Training of Science Teachers on skill ‘G’ equipment in Minna sponsored by ETF 13th – 19th July, 2008.
• Conducted entrance examination into Science College Sokoto, August 2nd, 2008.
• Attended a workshop on training of Mathematics Association of Nigeria (MAN) conference in Gusau, Zamfara State 24th – 28th August, 2008.
• Attended a workshop on training of Mathematics Teachers organized by skill “G” in Lokoja, Kogi State 1st – 6th September, 2008.
• Attended seminar on strengthening science and mathematics, and science education in Abuja 10th – 11th November, 2008.
• Presentation of new Mathematics theory by Mr. Bamidele, December 4th, 2008.
• Attended Step – B workshop on the need for data base for S.T.M. Teachers organized by Federal Ministry of Education / TRCN, 3rd – 6th December, 2008 in Kaduna.
• Attended 11th meeting of National Council on Science and Technology (NCS & T), in Enugu 9th – 13th Marc, 2009.

Technology/Jet Division

• A teacher, Mr. Faponda David Kolawole, and a student, Master Akinyemi Peter Oluwaseun, of Illofa Grammar School represented Nigeria in Brazil at the 2008 project exhibition and came first position in petrochemical engineering category.
• Conducted 2009 National Secondary Schools Mathematics competition on the 14th March, 2008.
• Attended National Council on Science and technology in Enugu 9th – 13th March, 2009.
• The Division in collaboration with NMC Abuja organized prize and Award ceremony for 64 students from 24 secondary schools across the state.

Education Resource Center

• Raw materials and tools for wood work have been supplied through SESP/World Bank intervention.
• Construction of science laboratory tables and stools for a private secondary school i.e. Christian Academy, Bacita.
• Construction of Rain guage and wind vane for Ndanaku secondary school in Patigi LGA.
• The centre was represented at an inaugural meeting organized by NECO on the harmonization and standardization of the Basic education Certificate at Minna, Niger State on 24th – 27th February, 2009.

Directorate of Planning, Research and Statistic

Statistic Unit

• The verification of data in the 373 project schools under State Educational Sector Project (SESP) was successfully carried out using the facilities at EMIS in the department.
• The department conducted National Schools Census between 17th and 21st November 2008 and submitted detailed report to the Federal ministry of Education on 12th February, 2009
• The department also celebrated 2008 edition of Education for All (EFA) week from 4th – 11th August, 2008. The report of the week’s activities was submitted to both the Honourable commissioner for Education, Science and Technology.

Planning Unit

• The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology had approved a total number of five hundred and eighty two (582) Private Nursery and Primary Schools and Two hundred (200) Junior and Senior Secondary Schools in the state to date.
• About six schools operating illegally have been closed down.
• Two (02) coaching / evening classes have been approved.
• Two (02) computer training centres have been approved.
• Preparation of budget proposals on revenue and recurrent expenditure for the ministry yearly.
• Submit regular progress report to the price intelligence monitoring unit (BIMU) of the government house on capital projects.

Project Unit

• Renovation of 425 classrooms in public Secondary Schools across the state at the cost of N443,081,200:00
• Construction of 46 classrooms to reduce congestion in schools at the cost of N88, 593,999:00.

Directorate of Education Support Service

Exam Division

• Conduct of placement tests for primary six pupils aspiring to get admission into junior secondary schools in the state 2007.
• Conduct of SS2 promotion examinations for senior secondary schools in the state 2008.
• Conduct of primary 3 promotion examinations for primary 3 pupils in the state 2008.
• Registration of final year students of secondary schools in the state for WASCE and NECO examination 2007 and 2008.
• Monitoring of conduct of WAEC and NECO examinations to check examination malpractices 2007 and 2008.
• Registration of students for senior Islamic students’ certificate examination 2007and 2008.
• Transportation of students on exchange programme to and from their various schools in the North 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Curriculum Division

• Attended National Workshop at National Education, Research and Development Council (NERDC) Abuja, on the Draft National Book Policy (2007).
• Attended National Sensitization Advocacy Workshop at NERDC Abuja, on the review of the Draft of year Universal Basic Education (UBE) Curriculum and its implication.
• Participated in the National Book Development Capacity Building Workshop Sensitization Workshop i.i TTT (Train the Trainer)
• Participated in Kwara State Education Sector Project (SESP) activities on Textbook and Instructional and Equipment sub – component 2. (2007 – 2009)
• Co – ordinated the Review and Evaluation of Textbooks for primary, JSS and SSS in 2007
• Co – ordinate the Review and Evaluation of Textbooks and Comparism of Bids for English and Maths for primary 1 – 6 for the SESP project (2008 – 2009)
• Issued approved list of books and curricula to schools, publishers and authors
• Distributed a copy each of young Readers’ Club of Nigeria Brochure (produced by NERDC) to all secondary schools in the state (2007)
• Organized stakeholders meeting on the production and review of the Draft Kwara State Book Policy (2007)
• Co- ordinated the distribution of the state Book Policy to schools and stakeholders in the state.
• Establishment of Textbook and Instructional materials unit (TIMU) 2007
• Attended training / workshop of Textbook and Instructional materials unit (TIMU) along with Kano and Kaduna (SESP-2007)
• Co – ordinated the item – writing for common Entrance Exams into JS 1, joint primary 3 and SS 2 promotion examinations and junior school certificate examination (2007 – 2009)
• Co – ordinate the state interactive workshop on the New 9 – year Basic Education Curriculum and the New Senior Secondary School Curriculum Structure (Nov. 2008 and Feb. 2009)

Continuous Assessment Division

• The Division has successfully conducted the year 2008 Junior School Certificate Examination (JSCE) in June – July 2008
• Issuance of back log certificates in respect of (JSCE) has commenced. Meanwhile schools have been collecting JSCE certificates for years 2007 and 2008 as from October 2008 up to date.
• Workshop on proper implementation of policy guideline for Junior Secondary Certificate Examination as it affects Continuous Assessment in schools has been successfully organized for principals of both public and private schools in November 26th – 27th 2008.
• The division has successfully conducted monitoring of C.A. record in schools (November 2008 – March 2009).

Sports, Health Education and HIV/AIDS Unit

• Won the zonal level Basketball competition (central conference) represented by Government Secondary School, Ilorin and recently attended the final of the Milo Basketball competition and came fifth.
• In April this year, trained 30 teachers from secondary schools in the family life HIV/Education (FLHE) curriculum. Thus 10additional schools are implementing FLHE curriculum at the JSS 1 level
• Reached the quarter final stage of the shell soccer cup competition for Nigeria secondary schools represented by the Ilorin Grammar school Ilorin in January 2008
• Attended the National School sports Festival in April 2008 which was hosted by the Lagos State Government in Lagos. The State representative won 5 Gold, 9 Silver and 13 bronze medals
• In August 2008 Kwara state hosted the first National Deaf Secondary   Schools Football Competition in Ilorin. The Kwara state team represented by the Kwara state School for Special Needs came third.
• Between 12th-16th, June 2008, Kwara State also played host to FCT and the other five states from the North Central States, at the Central Conference stage of the Nestle Milo Secondary School Basketball Championship. Kwara State teams emerged runners up in the boys and girls categories.
• Organized the 2008 edition of the LUBCON Kwara State Principals soccer cup competition for senior secondary schools in October.
• Conducted  a 5 day training for 100 (Christian religious studies, Islamic religious studies, health education and guidance and counselors) teachers and 100 students in the Faith Based AIDS Awareness Initiative Training for secondary school teachers and peer education for secondary school students in October 2008.
• In December 2008, a 10 day training on Family Life HIV and AIDS Education (FLHE) for 21 teachers. 2009
• Participated in the North Central Zone u-18 talent hunt competition In Makurdi In January 2009 where Kwara State contingents won 3 gold, 4 silver and 5 bronze medals in athletics, boxing and table tennis events.
• Attended the zonal level of the Shell Soccer Cup Competition represented by the Government Day Secondary School, Lafiagi boys team in Ondo in January 2008

Guidance and Counselling Unit

• Successfully conducted monitoring of G & C records in secondary schools in the 3 senatorial districts of the state 2008.
• Conducted the pre-screening and screening examination of Gifted pupils into Suleja Academy 2008.
• Paid the transport fare of the gifted and talented students to and from the Federal Academy, Suleja 2008.
• Supervision of streaming exercise of JSS 3 students into SS 1 Class i.e arts, Science, Commercial e.t.c. in secondary schools of the state (September 2008 to date).

Inspectorate Directorate

• In a bid to restructure the Inspectorate Department to Quality Assurance Bureau, a written test and oral interview has been conducted for interested candidates through internal advertisement.
• Construction of special office building for Quality Assurance Bureau.
• Procurement of five Vehicles for Quality Assurance Bureau.

Directorate of Administration

• Drastic steps were taken against the habit of lateness, loitering and truancy by some staff of the ministry. These had yielded fruits because staff are now punctual keep to their offices and close at appropriate time.
• On the computer literacy for the typist, all the typists in the ministry have been sent on computer literacy courses and their results were encouraging.