The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) says it is set to roll out an open schooling programme designed to provide a flexible learning approach and access to education.
The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Hamid Bobboyi made this known during a meeting with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Effective Schools Programme in Abuja on Tuesday.
Bobboyi, represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary (Service), Prof. Isiaka Kolawole, emphasised that the initiative was aimed at offering extensive access to basic education in the country.
According to him, UBEC is finalising arrangements for the Open Schooling Programme in the basic education sub-sector as an accelerated education intervention to cater for the shortage of teachers in schools.
“This programme is intended to provide a flexible learning approach and support those who cannot access traditional UBE settings.
“Though much has been invested, and great efforts made by government, corporate and private institutions, and privileged individuals.
“Despite the various interventions by UBEC, much more still needs to be done towards improving basic education in the country,” he said.
He explained that key issues such as the large number of out-of-school children, insufficient teaching and learning infrastructure, and outdated UBE enabling Act deserved adequate attention.
Other areas that needed attention, he said, are gaps in teacher quality and availability, low partnerships for UBE delivery, insecurity, and lack of awareness about the importance of education in rural and underserved communities.
Meanwhile, Prof. Bala Zakari, UBEC’s Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical), while presenting the status of the UBE programme, highlighted the severe shortage of qualified teachers.
While drawing data from the 2022 personnel audit in the basic education sector, Zakari pointed out that public primary schools were short of teachers.
“There is acute shortage of qualified teachers in public primary schools. Of the 694,078 teachers required at this level 499,202 are available leaving a gap of 194,876.
“Early Childhood Care, Development and Education (ECCDE) and Junior Secondary Schools appear to have more teachers than required,” he said.
Zakari called for a review of the 2004 UBE Act to address these issues and urged state governments to allocate more resources to education.(NAN)