FG trains 56 UBE Effective Schools Master Trainers in Ibadan

BY STEPHEN GBADAMOSI

The Federal Government has trained 56 Master Trainers for the recently launched Universal Basic Education (UBE) Effective Schools Programme selected from states across the Southern part of the country, including Kwara and Kogi states.

The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, announced this in Ibadan during a five-day training programme for the participants.

He also said the programme marked a significant step towards enhancing educational quality and accessibility.

Dr. Bobboyi emphasised that the programme was part of UBEC’s broader efforts to address the dual challenges of the learning crisis and the high number of out-of-school children.

He said UBEC had taken steps to achieve an effective UBE programme in 111 schools, adding that there were three UBE Effective Schools per senatorial zone and three in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), selected as pilot for the programme.

He said the training of Master Trainers was one of the activities in the implementation of the ESP.

“From here, you will be expected to cascade the training to the teachers in the 111 schools. This is in furtherance of the commission’s plans to promote smart education at basic education level and lay an enduring foundation for the development of relevant technological skills to cope with the 21st Century world.

“The Effective School Programme was designed to progressively improve instructional tools and practices to maximise the potentials of both educators and students within the educational system.

“This initiative introduces a new perspective and practice in learning across the 111 schools previously designated as UBEC E-learning centers, ”Dr. Bobboyi stated.

He said the schools had been equipped with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment with alternative power supply to enable technology-supported teaching and learning.

“To this end, the commission has established 37 Smart Schools, one in each state and the FCT, with some already operational. A Digital Resource Centre (DRC) has been built and commissioned,” he added.

Dr. Bobboyi said the establishment of UBE effective schools aimed to provide Nigerian children with the necessary resources for improved learning outcomes and the acquisition of 21st-century skills.

Bobboyi reaffirmed UBEC’s commitment to creating an environment conducive to providing functional basic education to Nigeria’s school-age population.

Also speaking, the Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (OYOSUBEB), Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran, highlighted that the board, under his supervision, had keyed into the smart education system initiated by UBEC.

He added that the board was currently recruiting, with the aim to employ 7,000 primary school teachers who are digitally literate.

Adeniran maintained that the efficient operation of the smart schools in the state would enhance the overall effectiveness of UBE delivery by ensuring that all educational programmes met and maintained minimum standards.

The Director, Teachers’ Development, UBEC, Mr. Mayowa Aleshin, said the UBE Effective Schools Programme represented a substantial investment in Nigeria’s educational future.

He said it aimed to bridge gaps in learning and foster an environment where every child could thrive academically.

The event was attended by UBEC Coordinating Directors and Head Teachers of UBE Effective Schools.