UBEC unveils minimum standards for basic schools

[TGD]

  DETERMINED to speed up the attainment of Education for All (EFA) 2011 and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the country, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has unveiled the minimum standards for basic education in Nigeria.

In his address at the launching of the document, which was published in a book form, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Ahmed Modibbo Mohammed, noted that with the publication, there was no doubt that the availability of minimum standards in all facets of UBE implementation will enhance the processes as well as meet the on-going attempts for quality inputs and outputs.

He observed that prior to the enactment of the UBE Act and subsequent establishment of UBEC, states had different standards in the implementation of the UBE programme and as such a challenge which made the implementation of the programme a bit cumbersome.

Mohammed disclosed that since 2005 to 2010, UBEC has constructed 44, 311 classrooms; renovated 61, 481; provided 1, 373, 131 furniture for pupils and teachers; 85, 995, 227 instructional materials (textbooks and play materials); 54, 805, 726 books in English, Mathematics, Science and Technology books and assorted library materials; funded the training of 175, 767 teachers using the 2009 teachers and education managers professional development fund.

He also disclosed that following the approval and directive by President Goodluck Jonathan that matching grants funds be transferred from CBN to commercial banks in August 2010, various beneficiaries have been able to access N26, 696, 816, 879.47 from January to date.

Consequently, the UBEC scribe said, the commission is set to monitor projects worth N7. 2 billion in eight states of Kwara, Ondo, Katsina, Edo, Plateau, Adamawa, Delta and Cross-River in the coming week "in accordance with our policy of commencing project monitoring activities three months after release of funds to states to ensure judicious utilisation of the intervention fund."

Section 9(c) of the UBE Act (2004) empowers the commission to "prescribe the minimum standards for basic education throughout Nigeria in line with the National Policy on Education (NPE) and the directive of the National Council on Education (NCE) and ensure the effective monitoring of the standards."

Mohammed assured Nigerians that the commission would effectively monitor these standards for compliance, as provided for in the Act.

Aspects of standards prescribed in the document include teacher (entry and professional development); pupils'/ students' transition and transfers; entry age, teacher-pupil/ student ratio, curriculum, certification, and quality assurance, conditionality, remuneration and employability of teachers; girl-child and other disadvantaged groups education, including HIV/AIDS programme.

Others are provision of education by private providers; procurement of goods, works and services; library facilities, laboratories, workshops, offices, stores, first aid, construction of classrooms; school record and financial records; federal teachers scheme (eligibility and its operation); school design, class sizes and school location; site planning, architectural design, space, technical and specification norms among others.



The Guardian