Education
SDGs: UBEC Advocates use of Mother Tongue in Schools
UBEC has identified lackadaisical attitude towards implementing the language policy on the use of mother tongue in schools as one of the factors impeding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) achievement in Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Hamid Bobboyi, said this at a stakeholders meeting in Abuja on Monday.
The two-day stakeholders meeting is themed “Dialogue on Reading Initiative in the UBE Programme and the Use of Mother Tongue/Language of Immediate Environment as Medium of Instruction,”
According to the UBEC boss, Nigeria is experiencing a severe learning crisis that requires immediate action to address.
Bobboyi stressed that if the learning crisis was not immediately addressed, it would hinder Nigeria from achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The UBEC boss cited a report by the National Bureau of Statistics, and the UNICEF on the learning and basic education in Nigeria.
The report, according to him, said that approximately three out of four children of basic education age, six to 14 years, in Nigeria could not read a text or solve simple mathematics problems.
He noted that several interventions by the Federal, State Governments and International Development Partners had been made to address the endemic issue, adding, “in spite of the huge resources expended, the challenge remains.
“Several factors include lack of access to instructional materials, especially on the language of the immediate environment, poor teaching quality and insufficient parental guidance.
“Others include lackadaisical attitude of states towards implementing the language policy on the use of mother tongue/ language of immediate environment as medium of instruction in the lower classes in Basic Education.
“It should be stated that fundamental learning is critical to the development of productive citizenship, sustainable development, national cohesion, as well as peace and prosperity.
“The call for dialogue on these important issues cannot therefore be overemphasized.”
According to him, UBEC is concerned about the Learning Crisis but we are undaunted by the challenge and that is why we are frontally confronting the situation.
“One of our strategies is harvesting ideas from stakeholders and using them to prepare roadmaps for turning things around”.
He, therefore, urged stakeholders at the dialogue to frankly discuss and come up with actionable steps that would not only help UBEC but all stakeholders in ameliorating the situation.
In his keynote address, the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Educational Research and Development Council, (NERDC) Prof. Ismail Junaidu, called for the implementation of the National Language Policy.
Junaidu disclosed that the policy, which prescribes the use of mother tongue or language of immediate environment as medium of instruction in basic schools was approved in 2022 and allows the use of mother tongue to teach even up to primary six.
While stating that no language should be left out, he said over 60 language autography, or writing systems, have been developed.
Junaidu added that after developing their autography, the curriculum for teaching the language needs to be developed also for implementation.
He called on communities as custodians of the culture, to step in and complement the effort of government, adding that the council was ready to provide technical assistance to all languages.
The NERDC boss, however, lamented the apathy and lack of political will as well as shortage of language teachers, low capacity and inadequate funds to implement the policy.
He called on relevant bodies to intensify sensitisation, produce more instructional materials, build capacity of teachers and implementing partners, as well as ensure partnership between agencies and development partners for proper implementation of the policy.
On his part, UNICEF Education Manager, Munamuzunga Sikaulu, stressed that Nigeria’s exit from the learning crisis will be a product of actions.
He, therefore, called on stakeholders to come up with ideas that will help the delivery of basic education to the Nigerian child.
Sikaulu noted that the use of mother tongue or the language of immediate environment would improve the motivation of the teachers and students to provide instruction and ensure that learning takes place. (NAN)
Education
NBTE Begins Accreditation of New Courses in Federal Polytechnic Wannue
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), has commenced accreditation exrceise for six new courses at the Federal Polytechnic, Wannue, Tarka Local Government Area of Benue.
Mr Ogah Ngbede, NBTE’s Director of Polytechnics Programmes, disclosed this on Thursday during the ongoing exrceise in the institution.
According to Ngbede, all the courses would be inspected before making a pronouncement.
He said that the exercise would last for two days, after which its decision would be made known.
He added that the institution secured full accreditation for two out of the five courses it presented to NBTE in 2023.
“We are here to look at the claims made by the institution because they have requested to commence some new programmes.
”We are here to ensure that the right thing is done and ensure that this polytechnic is not regarded or treated as a second grade institution,”he said.
The director, who decried poor funding of polytechnic education in Nigeria, called on goverment at all levels to ensure adequate funds were allocated to the education sector.
“The major problem affecting polytechnic education in this country is finance.
”Let me use this opportunity to call on the government at all levels to inject more funds into the polytechnic system.
“Technical education is a low hanging fruit from which this country can use to escape poverty; technical education all over the world has become a major currency with which nations are using to escape poverty.
“When we pay adequate attention to our polytechnics, students that graduate from these institutions can hit the ground running because they have the necessary tools to be job providers and not job seekers”, he said
Earlier, the Rector of the institution, Dr Tyover Ashinya, listed the courses presented for accreditation to include, Business Management, Public Administration, Agricultural Technology, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering and Computer Science
He said that the institution has the adequate manpower and infrastructures to effectively run the six new courses.
”We are willing to improve on all necessary areas that need improvement to enable these new courses secure full accreditation,”the Rector said.
Reports says that the institution was established by the Federal Government in December 2020. (NAN)
Education
FG Set to Revolutionise Educational Infrastructure with N98.2 bn – Edun
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Federal Government has announced the ground-breaking ceremony for the building of a 1,600-capacity student hostel in Akwa Ibom State.
This project is part of a N98.2 billion nationwide initiative to enhance educational infrastructure.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun who disclosed this said the Federal Government, in partnership with states and the private sector, will construct 24 housing facilities across 24 institutions, each with 1,600 bed spaces.
According to a statement by Mohammed Manga, Director of Information & Public Relations, the initiative is aimed at addressing a significant student accommodation deficit, enhancing student performance and well-being.
It is also a testament to the sophistication and depth of our local capital marketsRepresented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Special Duties Mr Okokon Ekanem Udo, the Minister added that
“this initiative invests in our youth and educational infrastructure, ensuring that tomorrow’s leaders have the resources and environment they need to thrive.
“It also demonstrates the private sector’s willingness and capacity to partner with government to deliver critical infrastructure projects across all geopolitical zones, to reduce the housing deficit*, Wale Edun said.
Education
FG in Land-Swap Deal to boost Literacy Education in Kano
By Eddy Ochigbo, Abuja
In a renewed move to enhance sustainable growth in education, the federal government has concluded plans to embark on 13 new infrastructure projects at the National Mass Literacy and Adult Education Commission (NMEC), Kano Centre, through Public/Private Partnership (PPP).
Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, disclosed this on Tuesday at a stakeholders’ engagement and sensitisation meeting in Abuja to kick start the proposed land-swap deal for the development of critical infrastructure in Kano.
According to him, the public private partnership project would mark a turning point in literacy education of adults across the country, regretting that it was unfortunate that Nigeria still had a significant number of adults who are either illiterate or have limited literacy skills.
This major challenge, he said hinders the nation’s overall development and progress.“This is another milestone and progress in the ministry, and we will be having it with private public partnership, and this is also part of President Bola Tinubu’s eight-point agenda.Government cannot do it alone and everyone of us needs this as stakeholders to bring development and move the country forward. We have a regulation guiding us which we will use to ensure that the plots that have laid fallow over the years are put to best use in our time,” he said.
While stressing the need to regulate teaching in the country, specifically to guide teaching and teaching practice, Sununu revealed that the 13 new infrastructure projects – semi-detached two and three bedroom bungalows, state-of- the-art classrooms, clinic, library, hostels, a lecture theatre and recreational facilities, among others – would change the fortunes of the National Mass Literacy and Adult Commission, Kano centre, which has been lying fallow in the last 39 years.
“The projects would not only enhance learning at the centre, but would also provide a conducive environment for entrepreneurship in the centre. The Kano Centre of the National Mass Literacy Centre plays a crucial role in addressing this challenge by providing literacy education to adults across the country.
However, to effectively fulfil its mandate and reach more people, it is essential to have the necessary infrastructure and resources in place. This is where the proposed development of 13 critical infrastructures through land swap Public-Private Partnership comes into play. Through this innovative approach, we will be able to leverage the expertise, resources and capabilities of the private sector to create modern and functional learning facilities for the Centre,” Sununu enthused.
On his part, the Executive Secretary, NMEC, Prof. Simon Akpama, expressed confidence that through collective efforts and sustained collaboration between the public and private sector the growth of education would make a significant impact on the lives of a cross section of Nigerians. He said the initiative would also empower youths and adults to contribute their quota to national development.
Meanwhile, DAILY ASSET gathered that MASLAHA Homes and Development Limited, a leading Kano-based Real Estate company, which proposed the land-swap deal, has the capacity to design, finance and build the 13 new critical education infrastructure and assets for the Kano Centre of National Mass Literacy within the scheduled timeframe.