The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi says emerging constraints in basic education delivery in Nigeria may necessitate an increase in the consolidated revenue funds from the current two percent to four percent
He made this observation during a One Day Civil Society Organisation CSO-legislative Round Table Meeting held in Abuja.
At the meeting which also hosted some members of the National Assembly, Dr Bobboyi buttressed his position for an increase in funding to the security challenges affecting the country, he insisted that increasing students population also calls for urgent need for teaching facilities.
The UBEC boss further tasked the relevant civil society organisations ,the media and other critical stakeholders not to shy away from rendering assistance to the government in bridging observed gaps in learning and teaching processes, especially at the basic school level.
Dr. Bobboyi equally stressed the enormity of challenges in the basic education sub sector, stating that over 50 percent of schools in the country have no furniture and pupils sit on the floor to take lessons.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Basic Education on Basic Education, represented Senator Frank Ibiziem decried the failure of States’ Universal Basic Education, SUBEB to sustain some UBEC initiated projects such as classroom libraries earlier introduced by the commission in all constituencies in the country.
He called for a rapid response initiative to commence repairs of dilapidated schools and pledged the Senate’s support for any move by the commission towards ensuring the provision of a good learning environment for students.
A representative of MacArthur Foundation, Mr. Dayo Olaoye ,called on stakeholders to review the impact of the country’s annual budget on education, stressing that it was not enough that the country is increasing its budget to the sector.
“As we think about reforms, let us think beyond buildings that have been delivered ,let us start thinking about how many children have been brought to school,” he said.
He emphasised the need for accountability in the educational.
