FG hinges low quality education on poor delivery, supervision

The Federal Government has identified the recruitment of poor and unqualified teachers as well as ineffective supervision as some of the factors impeding delivery of qualitative basic education in the country.

Minister of State for Education, Dr Suwaiba Ahmad, who disclosed this at a meeting with education secretaries from the 774 local government councils and organised by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), lamented the learning crisis at the basic education sub-sector, and restatedthe administration’s commitment to improve factors that impact on quality education delivery.

Ahmad listed the factors to include teacher quality, school environment, availability of instructional materials, efficient school governance and supervision.

The training, which held simultaneously in all the six geopolitical zones of the country, was designed to equip the secretaries with relevant skills and competencies in handling schools.

The minister highlighted critical challenges bedevilling basic education in the country, while emphasising the crucial role being played in basic education delivery in the structure of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme implementation by the local government education authorities that are closest to schools, learners, parents, communities and other stakeholders.

Ahmad said: “As a matter of fact, the councils have the constitutional responsibility for primary education delivery. It, therefore, will serve a good end when we train competent managers and effective supervisors at the local government level.

“Education ranks high on the priority list of President Bola Tinubu, as espoused in the Renewed Hope Agenda. For us at the Federal Ministry of Education, we are analysing the critical issues at every level in the sector with the plan to review and come up with new initiatives and strategies that will deliver results.

She noted that at the primary level, Nigeria is facing the twin problem of out-of-school children, and those who are in school but not learning.

“Primary school education is today bedevilled by what is now popularly called “learning poverty. Primary school children are performing below their capacity, and this must be arrested,” she stated.

She hinted that some of the ongoing programmes being implemented by different agencies under the Ministry of Education will be reviewed and redirected for proper coordination.

Ahmad commended UBEC for putting together the training programme aimed at enhancing effective management of schools under their supervision.

She noted for instance that the Commission for Almajiri and out-of-school children had the mandate to reduce the number of school age children who are not attending school.

The minister added that the ministry will continue to focus and improve on factors that impact on quality education delivery, including teacher quality, school environment, availability of instructional materials, efficient school governance and supervision.

The minister further reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government towards supporting local and state governments in ensuring that the goal of universal basic education programme is achieved in the shortest time.

Executive Secretary, UBEC, Dr Hamid Bobboyi, said following the position they occupy as administrative and professional heads of local government education authorities,education secretaries are expected to ensure that primary schools in their domain are run efficiently.

He urged participants to strengthen transparency and accountability in fund management, and ensure that funds are utilised for the purpose for which they are disbursed.

“It is my expectation that with the recent autonomy granted local governments in Nigeria, more responsibilities will be devolved to them with the possible direct disbursement of primary education Federal Intervention Fund to states through the local government education authorities,” Bobboyi said.