Kano govt injected N6 billion into basic education sector in two years ― UBEC boss

THE Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Hamid Bobboyi has said that the investment of a sum of N6 billion in basic education by the Kano State Government between 2018 and 2019 has impacted positively on the sub-sector.

Bobboyi who made this known while delivering his speech at the ongoing two-day retreat organized for Board and Management members of the commission holding in Kano commended Governor Abdullahi Ganduje for prioritising basic education in the state.

Head Public Relations and Protocol of UBEC, Mr David Apeh, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, quoted Bobboyi as saying that Kano State has recorded laudable achievements in the last few years that is unprecedented in the history of the State.

He explained that with that huge amount, the stated recorded construction of 817 new classrooms, renovation of 685 classrooms, drilling of 100 boreholes, provision of 40,000 pupil’s and teacher’s furniture, recruitment of 8,000 volunteer teachers for Tsangaya primary schools many others.

Dr. Bobboyi said the achievements were crowned by the establishment of free and compulsory basic education and that this has helped to increase pupil’s enrolment from 1 million to 3.3 million currently.

“UBEC is delighted with these achievements and would continue to partner with the state government through State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to move basic education forward,” he said.

The Executive Secretary said the retreat would provide an opportunity for the board and management to brainstorm, exchange ideas and strategize in moving basic education forward.

He stressed that during the retreat; they will also review the strategic priorities and propose workable changes in institutional structures to drive both Medium and long term goals of the commission.

He said they would also re-assess the legal framework service delivery model, share emerging developments and trends including global practices for better performance.

Commenting on COVID-19, the Executive Secretary said the pandemic serves as an eye-opener to all stakeholders in basic education, adding that during the peak of the scourge, teaching and learning in public schools was grounded to a halt and over forty-two (42) million children in public schools were sent home abruptly for a whole academic session.

He said, “at this retreat, members will have the opportunity to discuss effective ways and means of strengthening the capacity of UBEC, SUBEB and their critical stakeholders in handling the similar situation in future and map out strategies for quick response and remediation.”

Earlier, Governor Ganduje who declared the retreat open said his administration is bent on transforming the Almajiri system in the state and urged all stakeholders in basic education sub-sector to invest heavily in basic education.

The retreat with the theme “Enhancing Basic Education in Nigeria toward a Robust Institutional Strengthening and Effective Stakeholder Engagement” will also feature a presentation from various experts from UNICEF, DFID and the World Bank.

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