The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has come up with a document that prescribes uniform minimum standards in the areas of resources, processes and performance for basic education implementation in Nigeria.
Speaking at the launch of the document yesterday in Abuja, Executive Secretary of the UBEC, Dr. Ahmed Modibbo Muhammed, said that a key function of the commission as stipulated in the 9(c) of UBE Act (2004), was to “prescribe the minimum standards for basic education throughout Nigeria in line with the National Policy on Education and the directive of the National Council on Education (NCE) and ensure the effective monitoring of the standards”.
He said that it had become necessary to put in place a standard because it was observed that at states and local government levels, standards varied, making the implementation of the UBE programme more cumbersome.
According to Modibbo, “In Nigeria, numerous standards have been in existence both inter-state and intra-state. There also existed schools with varied levels of facilities and teaching standards. The standards for most schools, however, are dismal and does not lend itself to fostering the overall growth and development of children and giving them the skills required to survive with dignity in this ever changing global society
“With this publication, it is our expectation that strict adherence to this document in basic education provisions and delivery would add greater value to programme implantation.
“The aspect of standards that have been prescribed in the document include the following: entry age, teacher-pupil/student ratio, curriculum, certification and quality assurance, conditionality, remuneration and employability of teachers.
Others include instructional materials, availability of guidance and counselling services, classrooms, toilets, windows and doors, library facilities, first aid, school records, financial records, girl-child and other disadvantaged groups’ education, including HIV/AIDS programme, teacher entry and professional development, regular monitoring/supervision cycles and supervisors among others”.
The commission, therefore, urged all educational administrators at the basic education level to ensure that all schools use the document as a guide in the provision of facilities and teaching standards for a child-friendly learning environment.
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