Alausa Faults Basic Education Delivery In Nigeria, Constitutes 14 Man C’tee To Overhaul System

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ABUJA – Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa has faulted poor delivery of basic education in the country, despite huge resources invested into creating Smart, Bilingual and Alternative Schools.

The Minister expressed his reservations on Tuesday, while inaugurating a 14-member supervisory committee to monitor special school projects embarked on by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

Alausa said, “these schools were not achieving the purpose for which they were created because many children were still out of school despite government’s huge investment”.

While handing down terms of reference, the Minister noted that UBEC Ministerial Implementation and Monitoring Committee for Smart Schools, Bilingual Schools and Alternative Schools, represents another important milestone in the collective determination to transform basic education in Nigeria.

He insisted that investment into these specialised schools must not go to waste, especially when UBEC has invested substantial public resources in establishing the smart schools among others.

“These projects were conceived to achieve specific national objectives. The Smart Schools are designed to prepare Nigerian children for the digital economy through technology-enabled teaching and learning.

“The Bilingual Schools are intended to promote linguistic inclusion, improve learning outcomes and strengthen national integration, and the Alternative Schools are aimed at providing quality education opportunities for vulnerable children, especially girls, out-of-school children and other underserved populations”.

“Our responsibility, therefore, extends beyond building classrooms. Our mandate is to ensure that every educational investment made by government translates into meaningful learning opportunities for Nigerian children”, he stressed.

Tasking the Committee members, Alausa told them that their roles goes beyond simply monitoring construction sites.

His words, “you are being entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring that these schools become living institutions where children learn, teachers teach and communities thrive.

“Your task is to follow every project from conception to completion. From completion to handover. From handover to operation. From staffing to student enrolment; and from enrolment to measurable learning outcomes”.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Aisha Garba stated that the Smart Schools, Bilingual Schools and Alternative Schools Projects represent some of the Federal Government’s most significant investments in basic education.

“Together, they are expanding access to quality education, promoting digital and innovative learning, providing educational opportunities for Out-of-School Children and other vulnerable learners, and strengthening the delivery of inclusive basic education nationwide”, she said.

Garba noted that the committee must approach this as an important national responsibility with professionalism, objectivity and a shared commitment to excellence. I am confident that, working together, we will accelerate the completion, commissioning, operationalisation and sustainability of these projects and ensure that they deliver lasting educational benefits to Nigerian children”.

Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Rashid Aderinoye appreciated the government for the opportunity to serve and pledged to work assiduously for the benefit of the Nigerian child.