The Federal Government has commenced the implementation of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Effective Schools Programme in 111 designated schools across the Federation.
Dr Hamid Bobboyi, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, made the disclosure on Monday in Abuja, at a one-day meeting between UBEC, States Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs), Coordinating Directors, and Head Teachers of UBE Effective Schools.
Represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary, Professor Bala Zakari (Technical), Bobboyi explained that UBE Effective Schools were established as part of efforts by the Commission to address the twin challenges of the learning crisis and out-of-school children while also providing Nigerian children at the basic level of education with the tools they need for better learning outcomes and 21st-century knowledge acquisition.
He assured the commitment of UBEC to provide a conducive environment for Nigeria’s school-aged population to acquire functional basic education, saying that effective schools would enhance the efficiency of UBE delivery by ensuring that minimum standards are attained and maintained in all educational programmes.
He added, “The Effective School 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.
“After a robust engagement with stakeholders, the Commission started the process of actualizing the initiative as a pilot in three schools in each state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), ushering in a new perspective and practice in learning across 111 schools that were previously designated as UBEC E-learning centres.”
The Executive Secretary stated that he was pleased to inform the gathering that the Commission had made significant strides in that direction, including the procurement and distribution of instructional materials to all 111 effective schools, the provision of tablets and the installation of satellite-based learning equipment, as well as the training of head teachers and teachers in ICT pedagogy, among others.
Bobboyi explained that the success of the Effective Schools Programme was dependent on the concerted efforts of all stakeholders, especially the head teachers, who are the main implementers of the initiative and the custodians of the curricula and administrative authority at the school level.
He therefore charged the head teachers to transform the ESP ideals into functional day-to-day activities within the school environment, while imploring the participants to make the best use of the interactive programme by familiarising themselves with the key features of the ESP.
He equally charged them to renew their commitment to adopting improved methods for leading and providing direction to other teachers towards ensuring the success of the ESP in various institutions.
Dr Ossom Ossom, Director, Social Mobilisation, UBEC, earlier in his welcome remarks, underscored the importance of head teachers in the success of the UBE Effective Schools Programme while also reminding them of the onerous task ahead.