UBEC commits to addressing challenges of out-of-school children

The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Hamid Bobboyi, has said the recently unveiled Universal Basic Education Effective Schools Programme will address the dual challenges of the learning crisis and the high number of out-of-school children.

He said the programme marked a significant step towards enhancing educational quality and accessibility.

Bobboyi made this known in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on Thursday, during a five-day training programme for 56 master trainers selected from states across the southern part of the country, including Kwara and Kogi states, for the ESP

According to him, the training of Master Trainers is one of the activities in the implementation of the ESP.

Bobboyi disclosed that the establishment of UBE Effective Schools was aimed at providing Nigerian children with the necessary resources for improved learning outcomes and the acquisition of 21st-Century skills.

He added that UBEC had taken steps to achieve an effective UBE programme in 111 schools, even as he revealed that there were three UBE Effective Schools per senatorial zone and three in FCT, which he said, were selected as pilot for the programme.

“From here, you will be expected to cascade the training to the teachers in the 111 schools. This is in furtherance of the commission’s plans to promote smart education at basic education level and lay an enduring foundation for the development of relevant technological skills to cope with the 21st century world,” Bobboyi said.

“The Effective Schools Programme was designed to progressively improve instructional tools and practices to maximise the potential of both educators and students within the educational system.

“This initiative introduces a new perspective and practice in learning across the 111 schools previously designated as UBEC E-learning centres.

“The schools have been equipped with ICT equipment with alternative power supply to enable technology-supported teaching and learning,” Bobboyi said.

To this end, he added that the commission has established 37 smart schools, one in each state and FCT, with some already operational, maintaining that a Digital Resource Centre has been built and inaugurate..

The Executive Secretary of UBEC reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to creating an environment conducive to providing functional basic education to Nigeria’s school-age population.

In his address at the event, the Executive Chairman, OYOSUBEB, Nureni Adeniran, said the board under his supervision, had keyed into the smart education system initiated by UBEC.

According to him, OYOSUBEB is currently conducting a recruitment exercise to employ 7,000 primary school teachers who are digitally literate.

Adeniran said efficient operation of the Smart Schools in the state, would enhance the overall effectiveness of UBE delivery, by ensuring that all educational programmes met and maintained minimum standards.

The Director, Teachers’ Development, Mr Mayowa Aleshin, said the UBE Effective Schools Program represented a substantial investment in Nigeria’s educational future, being tailored to bridging gaps in learning and fostering an environment where every child would thrive academically.