(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/DSC_2172-300x201.jpg) The 59th National Council on Education (NCE) meeting, the highest decision making body in the education sector, holding from the 24th to 28th June, 2013 at the International Conference Centre in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, starts with a focus on strengthening institutional management in the sector for effective and quality service delivery.
(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/DSC_2159.jpg) (http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/DSC_2159.jpg)A cross session of delegates While declaring open the Meeting of the Officials that precede the Ministerial Meeting of the Council on Monday, 25 June, 2013, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. MacJohn Nwaobiala, described the theme of the meeting: "Strengthening the Institutional Management of Education for Quality Service Delivery" as apt, noting that it is informed by the need to ensure quality service delivery in the educational system for the attainment of Education for All (EFA), Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Vision 20:2020. In his words, "You will agree with me that if our institutions are strong and well managed, there will be tremendous improvement in access, education delivery and sustainable development"; noting that, "The present administration has demonstrated its unflinching determination to strengthen the institutional management of education." This is even as he cited the inclusion of institutional management as one of the six focal areas in the 4-Year Strategic Plan for the Development of Education Sector (2011-2015), as one those measures.
(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/DSC_2166.jpg) (http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/DSC_2166.jpg)(L-R): Dr. MacJohn Nwaobiala, Mallam Kabir Usmam and other Permanent Secretaries during the meeting While noting that the concurrent jurisdiction that education enjoys, which enables government at all levels, private sector and other stakeholders to own and run schools, has tremendously increased access, the Permanent Secretary said, it has also, naturally, encouraged the prevalence of diversity of standards. Consequently, he said, JCCE and NCE fora are established to coordinate, safeguard and control standards.
Dr. Nwaobiala, who expressed satisfaction at the large turnout of delegates, enjoined them to critically examine the memoranda articulated and accepted as working document for this meeting at the last JCCE Plenary meeting held in Bauchi with a view to making proper recommendations for approval.
In a welcome address, the Director, Policy, Planning, Management and Research, Mrs B. U. Okpa said that education is the bedrock of development of modern societies, and that the present leadership of the Federal Ministry of Education has passion and commitment to lead the process for the delivery of qualitative education for the public good.
(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/DSC_2200.jpg) (http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/DSC_2200.jpg)Dr. MacJohn Nwaobiala and other delegates inspecting instructional materials on display by Lagos State Ministry of Education. While expressing the Ministry's gratitude to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed and the people of FCT for their prompt response in securing the venue for the meeting, she called on States to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Education to ensure the achievement of the nation's educational goals, saying, "Together we will deliver qualitative learning and outcomes."
The Secretary for Education, FCTA, Mallam Kabir Usmam, in his address, said that the theme for the meeting is very instructive, noting that the challenges of funding, provision of infrastructure, access and retention and policy formulation and implementation are anchored firmly on a strong and functional institutional management and framework.
He said that the let-down of management is reflected in the unacceptable high rate of failure in our national terminal examinations, which calls for a return to the drawing board to plan new strategies, which he said, is clearly a function of management.
He expressed the hope that the meeting will herald a beginning of a positive change in the education landscape of the country, noting that the recommendations of the meeting would help to re-design and strengthen institutional management framework for effective service delivery in the sector.
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