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| Out-of-school children |
UBEC set to mop
up out-of-school children
up out-of-school children
By Uji Abdullahi
Iliyasu
Iliyasu
Abuja
The Executive
Secretary of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Hamid Bobboyi, has
said that the commission had introduced Open Schooling Programme (OSP) to
mop-up out-of-school children across the 36 states of the in the country,
Secretary of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Hamid Bobboyi, has
said that the commission had introduced Open Schooling Programme (OSP) to
mop-up out-of-school children across the 36 states of the in the country,
Bobboyi stated
this in Kaduna Thursday at the opening of a two-day meeting with stakeholders, content
developers and centre managers, on expected roles and responsibilities in the
implementation of the OSP.
this in Kaduna Thursday at the opening of a two-day meeting with stakeholders, content
developers and centre managers, on expected roles and responsibilities in the
implementation of the OSP.
The secretary was
represented at the meeting by the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics,
Dr Tokumbo Onosode.
represented at the meeting by the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics,
Dr Tokumbo Onosode.
He described OSP
as a “flexible education system that allow learners to learn where they are and
when they want, away from conventional schools and teachers.”
as a “flexible education system that allow learners to learn where they are and
when they want, away from conventional schools and teachers.”
He explained that
the programme had no age restriction and would adopt several teaching methods
but with emphasis on Information and Communication Technology as a tool for
learning.
the programme had no age restriction and would adopt several teaching methods
but with emphasis on Information and Communication Technology as a tool for
learning.
He said the
overall goal was to provide educational opportunities for children and youth
whose learning needs were not being met by conventional schools.
overall goal was to provide educational opportunities for children and youth
whose learning needs were not being met by conventional schools.
“It will also
enhance access to quality and functional education for marginalised and
disadvantaged groups in the country.
enhance access to quality and functional education for marginalised and
disadvantaged groups in the country.
“It will also
assist in the attainment of 100 per cent transition rate from primary to junior
secondary school.
assist in the attainment of 100 per cent transition rate from primary to junior
secondary school.
“The programme
will equally provide second chance for drop-outs and will help in meeting the
changing needs of children and youths through the provision of functional
vocational education.
will equally provide second chance for drop-outs and will help in meeting the
changing needs of children and youths through the provision of functional
vocational education.
“This will
significantly complement efforts in the reduction and eradication of the menace
of out-of-school as well as gender and social inequalities in education.”
significantly complement efforts in the reduction and eradication of the menace
of out-of-school as well as gender and social inequalities in education.”
According to him, the
programme will be implemented in six pilot states, namely, Kaduna, Kano,
Katsina, Kebbi, Adamawa and Niger states.
programme will be implemented in six pilot states, namely, Kaduna, Kano,
Katsina, Kebbi, Adamawa and Niger states.
He said that OSP
was open to children and youth who had never been to school, those who had
dropped out of school and those in school but were not learning.
was open to children and youth who had never been to school, those who had
dropped out of school and those in school but were not learning.
Bobboyi pointed
out that the country was still grappling with the menace of out-of-school
children in millions, along with numerous challenges affecting basic education
sector, adding that the sector was also faced with poor learning environment;
inadequate learning materials; dearth of qualified, competent and motivated
teachers, while many communities did not have schools.
out that the country was still grappling with the menace of out-of-school
children in millions, along with numerous challenges affecting basic education
sector, adding that the sector was also faced with poor learning environment;
inadequate learning materials; dearth of qualified, competent and motivated
teachers, while many communities did not have schools.
“These, along with
the increasing number of out-of-school children roaming the streets, prompted
UBEC to adopt the OSP in collaboration with Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and
other stakeholders.’’
the increasing number of out-of-school children roaming the streets, prompted
UBEC to adopt the OSP in collaboration with Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and
other stakeholders.’’
He said that the
meeting was organised to sensitise the centre managers and content developers
about the programme and their expected roles and responsibilities.
meeting was organised to sensitise the centre managers and content developers
about the programme and their expected roles and responsibilities.
Also the Director,
Social Mobilisation, Malam Bello Kagara, said that the success of the programme
would largely depend on massive mobilisation of the people to seize the
opportunity to acquire basic education.
Social Mobilisation, Malam Bello Kagara, said that the success of the programme
would largely depend on massive mobilisation of the people to seize the
opportunity to acquire basic education.
Kagara said that
his department would enlist the support of community and religious leaders,
civil society organisations and other relevant stakeholders to create the
needed awareness in communities.
his department would enlist the support of community and religious leaders,
civil society organisations and other relevant stakeholders to create the
needed awareness in communities.
The Executive
Chairman, Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board, Alhaji Abdullahi Sani,
thanked UBEC for the laudable initiative in enhancing access to basic education
in the country, noting that the programme if well implemented would
significantly improve access to education and provide equal opportunity to all
Nigerian children.
Chairman, Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board, Alhaji Abdullahi Sani,
thanked UBEC for the laudable initiative in enhancing access to basic education
in the country, noting that the programme if well implemented would
significantly improve access to education and provide equal opportunity to all
Nigerian children.
He assured UBEC of
maximum support to ensure the success of the programme in Kaduna state.
maximum support to ensure the success of the programme in Kaduna state.