He stated: “With the recent autonomy granted to LGAs in Nigeria, I expect that more responsibilities will be transferred to them, including the potential direct disbursement of federal intervention funds for primary education to states through the LEAs.”
“We are utilizing this training session to highlight the dos and don’ts in managing UBE intervention funds. It’s important to remember that the strength of our educational system, and the overall development of the nation, relies on the quality of primary education,” he added.
Bobboyi also emphasized: “Your role in implementing basic education is crucial and should not be taken lightly. Therefore, it is important to fully engage with the training, ask pertinent questions, and seek clarification on any areas of uncertainty.”
The Executive Secretary clarified that basic education is the responsibility of the LGAs. In their roles, education secretaries are the administrative and professional leaders of local government education authorities and are primarily tasked with ensuring the effective management of primary schools in their areas.
Speaking on the issue, Mr. Aleshin Olumuyiwa, Director of Teacher Development at UBEC, noted that monitoring reports from Teacher Development Programmes over the years have highlighted issues such as sending inappropriate candidates for training and transferring trained teachers to different schools shortly after the training.
“These trained teachers should remain in their schools for at least two years to allow them to share the knowledge and skills they acquired with their colleagues,” he stated.
Dr. Suwaiba Ahmad, Minister of State for Education, pointed out two major challenges in primary education delivery in Nigeria: the large number of out-of-school children and the issue of those in school who are not learning effectively.
“Primary education is currently hindered by what we call ‘learning poverty.’ Many primary school children are underperforming, which must be addressed. Various ongoing programs under the Ministry of Education will require review, reorientation, and better coordination,” she explained.
She reassured teachers that the federal government remains committed to supporting local and state governments in achieving the goals of the Universal Basic Education program as quickly as possible.
