THE Federal Government has urged the Universal Basic Education (UBE) and States Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEB) to ensure full implementation of the 9-year basic education curriculum in order to improve on the learning outcome of the pupils and students.
Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony Anwukah, gave the charge at the 15th quarterly meeting of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Management with the executive chairmen of SUBEBs and the FCT-UBEB, held in Calabar, Cross River State.
The theme of the meeting was; ‘Life-long Functional Basic Education in Nigeria: Challenges and the Way Forward’, according to a statement by the Public Relations Officer of UBEC, Mrs Helen Okoro.
The minister charged the participants to put more emphasis on effective and correct implementation of approved school curriculum, effective monitoring, supervision and strategic inspection of school activities.
He assured them that the Federal Ministry of Education would continue to support their efforts in the bid to transform basic education sub-sector in the country.
Anwukah also encouraged state governments to access their outstanding matching grants from UBEC in order to accelerate the development of basic education in Nigeria.
He noted the implementation of basic education was a primary responsibility of the states and that federal government’s intervention was meant to support their efforts.
Stakeholders at the meeting also agreed that UBEC and SUBEBs should increase efforts in monitoring teaching and learning in schools.
States were also asked prioritize the mitigation of the challenges that hinder the provision of life-long functional basic education in their domains with a view to facilitating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal 4 in Nigeria.
UBEC should ensure that sport activities are enshrine in the States action plan while  SUBEBs should intensify efforts to survey, secure and fence school lands to avoid encroachments as well as intensify efforts towards resuscitating school sports activities.
Executive Secretary, DrDikko Suleiman in his speech, expressed his appreciation to the Executive Governor of Cross River State for his strong concern for improved delivery of quality education as evidenced in the giant stride recorded in the education sector in Cross River State within his short period of leadership.
UBEC boss also acknowledged the valuable support and leadership direction given by the Minister of Education and the Minister of State for Education towards ensuring that UBEC deliver her mandate effectively.
and then