ABUJA-The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has cautioned states against creating areas of conflict in the implementation of the Universal Basic Education (UBE).
“It is disconcerting that some states enacted their laws with several sections being in conflict with the UBE Act.
“This is detrimental to the good intentions of the programme,” said UBEC Executive Secretary Ahmed Modibbo.
Modibbo made the observation yesterday in a paper “Strategies and resources in the implementation of the UBE programme.
The paper was presented at a masters’ trainers workshop on the Basic Education Curriculum (BEC) in Minna.
He said the states involved must rectify the problem if they intended to attain the objectives of the programme.
“Concerned states need to effect amendment to their laws to bring all sections in line with the Act.
“States in doubt of any such conflicts may need to clarify such with the commission,” Modibbo said.
He lamented that the lack of qualified and trained teachers was also hampering successful implementation of the UBE.
“Result of an audit in 2006 shows that there were 24.4 million pupils in primary education and 3.2 million students in junior secondary schools.
“The report also shows that there were 627,550 teachers in primary schools and 92,756 teachers in junior secondary schools,’’ Modibbo said.
He said the report indicated a wide gap between demand and supply of teachers.
Modibbo added that it was sad that only about 55.5 per cent of the available teachers were qualified, which worsened the situation.
“It is important to note that the shortfall created a gap in the teachers requirement,” he said.
Modibbo said training institutions and government must step up activities to increase the number of qualified teachers so that the gap could be reduced.
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