Senator Gbenga Daniel, a former governor of Ogun State and currently serving in the Senate, has raised concerns about the state of primary education in Nigeria, advocating for greater control under local government administration.
During a recent retreat organized by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) for members of the Senate committee on Basic and Secondary Education, Daniel expressed his belief that primary education would benefit from being fully managed by local governments with financial autonomy.
As the chairman of the retreat, themed “Basic Education Implementation in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Way Forward,” Daniel stressed the importance of local governments taking the lead in running basic education, particularly at the primary school level. He proposed that the state should relinquish control and focus solely on secondary education.
Daniel highlighted various issues and challenges that need to be addressed to advance the subsector. These include limited access, inadequate infrastructure, a shortage of competent teachers and instructional materials, outdated curriculum, insufficient funding, high teacher-student ratios, limited access to technology, and societal and cultural barriers. He emphasized that local governments are better positioned to tackle these challenges effectively.
Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, the executive secretary of UBEC, emphasized the need to comprehensively address the challenges facing basic education in Nigeria and find practical and sustainable solutions.
He underscored the urgency to review the UBEC Act, an outdated legislation that is 20 years old, to align with global best practices in basic education and ensure free and quality education for all Nigerian children. He stressed that this review is especially crucial as the country strives to recover from its economic challenges.
Mr. Lawal Usman, the chairman of the Senate committee on Basic and Secondary Education, expressed the committee’s commitment to charting a new course for basic education in Nigeria.
He also acknowledged the significance of the 2004 UBEC Act and assured that the retreat would thoroughly examine the document, considering emerging trends in the subsector, and provide practical recommendations for the way forward.
