The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, on Wednesday reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to providing inclusive access to quality basic education for all children nationwide.
He made this known at the 28th quarterly meeting of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) with Executive Chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) in Maiduguri.
He said investing in inclusive education would create platforms where children and adults could interact, learn, and build mutual understanding.
Alausa also said empowering teachers with quality training was central to national renewal, hence the need to impove the quality of infrastructures in government schools.
The minister also directed state executive chairmen of SUBEBs, who were unable to transform their administrative system digitally to do so before the end of the year.
He insisted that it was only through the digital transformation that the federal government could perfect its plans and address most critical issues affecting progress in primary education system as it were.
In her remarks, Aisha Garba, the Executive Secretary, UBEC, expressed hsppiness on how the minister’s reforms had touched the lives of millions of children.
She also noted that the gaps in data collection was already affecting the accurate measurement of progress as planned.
Garba urged SUBEBs chairmen who were yet to comply to facilitate the process in their respective states as agreed.
The excutive secretary reiterated the UBEC’s commitment to strengthening basic education, improve quality and standard in primary schools.
She said the theme of the meeting reflects the focus on digital monitoring systems aimed at improving accountability, transparency, and efficiency in service delivery.
She said UBEC had adopted digital data collection to generate reliable annual statistics, which guide planning and enable states to address specific educational needs.
The executive secretary, however, described education as a powerful engine for national transformation and a pathway out of poverty,
Garba urged participants to use the meeting to strengthen collaboration and improve ongoing initiatives.
Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno while declaring the meeting open reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to education as the foundation of development and prosperity.
“We have to ensure that accommodation are provided for teachers, and very soon, inshaa Allah (God willing), the government of Borno State will roll out plans to motivate teachers.
“Most importantly, there must be a deliberate effort to encourage technical and vocational education.
“Therefore, very soon, Borno State Government will implement plans to increase salaries of teachers,” he said.
The governor further said his administration had fully implemented National Minimum Wage for teachers in primary and secondary schools. (NAN)