By Godfrey AKON
The newly-appointed Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Aisha Garba, has pledged to implement innovative strategies to improve the quality and accessibility of basic education for millions of Nigerian children.
Speaking during her inaugural meeting with UBEC management and staff in Abuja on Monday, Garba underscored education as a fundamental right of every child, irrespective of their background.
She cited Article 26 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a reminder of the global commitment to universal education.
According to a statement by UBEC’s Head of Public Relations and Protocol, Mr. David Apeh, the UBEC boss also highlighted the scale of the challenge, Garba noted that Nigeria has approximately 17 million out-of-school children, one of the highest figures globally, posing a significant barrier to achieving universal education.
“Even for children in school, learning outcomes remain a concern. According to the World Bank Human Capital Index, students in Nigeria score an average of 309 on a harmonized test scale, far below the advanced benchmark of 625,” she said.
“UNICEF reports that in 2020, primary school completion rates were 59% for boys and 51% for girls, with secondary school rates even lower at 42% and 36%, respectively,” she said.
Garba expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Ministers of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa and Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, for entrusting her with the role, committing to lead with vision and collaboration.
She outlined her plan to strengthen UBEC’s mandate, established in 2004 to formulate, coordinate, and establish standards for basic education in Nigeria. She emphasized the importance of partnerships and tailored approaches to address state-specific challenges.
“Our mission is to expand access, improve quality, and create safe, conducive learning environments. We will provide adequate teaching materials and adopt solutions that address unique regional challenges rather than one-size-fits-all approaches,” she stated.
Garba also emphasized the need for a multi-sectoral approach to tackle barriers to basic education. She announced plans to work closely with government agencies, development partners, and local stakeholders to implement reforms and interventions aimed at reducing the number of out-of-school children.
She outlined several initiatives to transform Nigeria’s basic education sector, including: deploying targeted interventions and leveraging technology to enhance learning outcomes.
Others include constructing and upgrading critical infrastructure in schools, promoting the integration of children with special needs and advancing girl-child education, ensuring schools are safe and conducive for learning, and collaborating with state governments to increase uptake of UBEC Matching Grants.
She also pledged to engage with local government education authorities and community leaders to expand access to education in rural and underserved areas.
“Together, we can address Nigeria’s education challenges and unlock the potential of every Nigerian child,” Garba affirmed.
The meeting marked the beginning of a renewed effort by UBEC to drive meaningful change in the country’s education system under Garba’s leadership.
