The federal government has commenced the implementation of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Effective Schools Programme in 111 schools across the federation.
The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Hamid Bobboyi, announced the take-off of the programme on Monday in Abuja at a one-day meeting between UBEC, State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs), Coordinating Directors and Head Teachers of UBE Effective Schools.
Bobboyi, who was represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical), Professor Bala Zakari, noted that the Effective Schools were established as part of efforts of the commission to address the twin challenges of learning crisis and out-of-school children.
He said it would also provide Nigerian children at the basic level of education with the tools they needed for better learning outcomes and 21st Century knowledge acquisition.
He expressed the commitment of UBEC to providing a conducive environment for Nigeria’s school-aged population to acquire functional basic education, noting that Effective Schools would enhance the efficiency of UBE delivery by ensuring that minimum standards were attained and maintained in all educational programmes.
He further said the programme was designed to progressively improve the resources and routines of teaching and learning towards optimising the potential of both teachers and learners within the school system.
Bobboyi said after a robust engagement with stakeholders, the commission started the process of actualising the initiative as a pilot in three schools in each state and the FCT, “Thus ushering in a new perspective and practice in learning across 111 schools that were previously designated as UBEC E-learning centres.
“I am pleased to inform you that we have made significant strides in this direction, including the procurement and distribution of instructional materials to all the 111 Effective Schools, provision of tablets and installation of satellite-based learning equipment, training of head teachers and teachers in ICT pedagogy, among others.
“These efforts have proved to be very rewarding in laying a solid foundation for the commencement of the implementation of the ESP initiative.”
Earlier, the Director of Social Mobilisation at UBEC, Dr Ossom Ossom, in his welcome remark, underscored the importance of head teachers in the success of the UBE Effective Schools Programme while reminding them of the onerous task ahead.
