Quality basic education key responsibility of all — UBEC

From Fred Ezeh, Abuja

Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has challenged stakeholders in the basic education sub-sector to recommit to the cause of delivering quality basic education for Nigerian children.

Executive Secretary of UBEC, Hajiya Aisha Garba, gave the charge in Abuja, on Monday, during the opening ceremony of a three-day meeting of UBEC management with Executive Chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

She said the gathering was a testament to the collective commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian child has access to quality basic education, regardless of the education programme in Nigeria.

She said: “We must prioritise our society-based education by ensuring effective collaboration at national and state levels, within the education sector and beyond. This workshop provides us with a unique opportunity to collectively evaluate our progress so far, identify challenges, and chart a new pathway towards achieving our shared goal of an effective basic education system in Nigeria.

“While I have knowledge over the decades, it is still imperative that we address the most essential issues. Nigeria still has poor quality of education, especially at the basic level. We must work together to address these challenges in financing basic education, infrastructure, quality of education, ensuring the relevance and accessibility of learning materials, addressing challenges of teachers, and working together to improve the social infrastructure of an inclusive teaching and learning environment.”

The Dean of SUBEB Chairmen and Kwara SUBEB Chairman, Prof. Adaramaja Shehu, who spoke on behalf of the Chairmen, congratulated the UBEC Executive Secretary on her appointment, and appreciated the commitment of her management team for their expected support in the discharge of their responsibilities.

He thanked the Executive Secretary for the approval of the 2023/2024 teachers’ development fund in their state, saying that capacity building for teachers across the states would soon kick off.

He expressed confidence that the meeting would strategise on improving the effectiveness of schools and uphold best practices to boost learning outcomes, urging the chairmen to join hands in eradicating the issue of out-of-school children.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant (SSA), Dr. Ismaila Adiatu, emphasised the government’s dedication to addressing the growing crisis of out-of-school children in Nigeria.

He said: “I would like to assure you of Federal Government’s commitment to promoting quality education to inspire renewed hope, with strong emphasis on prioritising qualitative basic education, which is recognised as the most vital segment of the education sector.

“The development of this foundational level is essential for the positive impact of the other tiers of the educational system and its contribution to overall national development.

“The Federal Ministry of Education is, therefore, committed to improving teacher quality, enhancing the school environment, ensuring the availability of adequate instructional materials, and implementing an effective quality assurance evaluation system.

“We are also focused on strengthening collaboration with all relevant stakeholders to develop result-oriented strategies aimed at reducing the growing number of out-of-school children,” the Minister added.

He said a committee has been set up to outline the process for categorising schools in Nigeria to identify areas where urgent interventions are needed.

“These efforts are designed to prepare Nigerian youths for the 21st-century economy, in line with Mr. President’s initiative of ‘Education for Renewed Hope.'”

He further called on participants to reevaluate existing strategies and identify innovative approaches to implementing basic education, including exploring alternative funding sources and fostering collaboration to ensure that every Nigerian child receives quality education.