By Martin Paul Abuja
Th e Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs), recently ended the 19th quarterly meeting with a charge on stakeholders to support eff orts aimed at in developing, implementing and sustaining book policy of the sector. Th is was the focus of deliberations at meeting, which provided opportunities for the basic education sub-sector managers to share their experiences, particularly on the theme: “Textbooks Policy: An Eff ective Tool for Enhancing Delivery of Qualitative Basic Education in Nigeria”. Th e two-day meeting, which was declared open by Delta state Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, recommended, among other things that UBEC, NERDC, SUBEBs and other key stakeholders, should review guidelines for assuring quality in instructional materials deployed for UBE programmes. It also recommended that other states should emulate the initiative of Benue state in translating textbooks in core subjects into indigenous languages in liaison with publishers and relevant agencies. Th e minister, represented by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education Barr.
Chiedu Ebie, had in attendance the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Gozie Anwukah; UBEC Executive Secretary, Dr Hamid Bobboyi; Nigeria Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) Executive Secretary, Prof. Ismail Junaidu; UBEC Deputy Executive Secretaries (Technical and Services), Dr. Sharon ‘RowoOrieroOviemuno and Dr.Yakubu N. Gambo, respectively; UBEC Management and other Executive Chairmen from the 36 States and FCT UBEB among others. Strategic presentations were made on the theme of the meeting and discussions centered on the challenges associated with the provision, distribution and utilization of instructional materials, the need for certifi cation of recommended textbooks by NERDC towards improving and sustaining the required quality and standard in basic education. Th e meeting recommended among other things that UBEC, NERDC, SUBEBs and other key stakeholders should review and guidelines for assuring quality in instructional materials deployed for the UBE programme and also recommended that other states should emulate the initiative of Benue State in translating textbooks in core subjects into indigenous languages in liaison with publishers and relevant agencies.
