THE need for traditional and religious leaders to join forces with the Government in efforts to reduce the high number of out-of-school children estimated at 10.5 million and myriads of other challenges besetting the basic education sub sector has once again be emphasized.
Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Hamid Bobboyi gave the indication at a one-day consultative meeting of the National Planning Committee on the 2022 National Personnel Audit (NPA) with religious leaders on the modalities for the conduct of NPA in all basic education institutions in Nigeria.
Represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary, Dr Isiaka Kolawole, the UBEC boss acknowledged the key role being played by traditional rulers and religious leaders in the implementation of Universal Basic Education (UBE) in the country, urging them to collaborate with the Goverment in addressing the challenge out-of-school children while ensuring quality basic education is delivered to the citizenry.
He further solicited their support for the NPA exercise, saying the dearth of data in the basic education has remained a major challenge to reforms aimed at addressing concerns in the system.
Meanwhile, the Secretary-General of CAN, Joseph Daramola, in his remarks decried the gradual erosion of the nation’s cherish values and morals in schools with examination malpractice becoming a norm in many schools across the country.
The first phase of the school census exercise is expected to commence on Monday, 6th June, 2022 in the southern part of the country.
