Indications from the Universal Basic Education Commission UBEC reveals that Early Childhood Care Development and Education (ECCDE) is taking centre stage in Basic education delivery in the country.
Executive Secretary of UBEC Dr. Hamid Bobboi made the submission at a stakeholder engagement on the development of a roadmap on effective implementation of early childhood care development and education ECCDE in Kaduna.
He said the change in Education System is paramount to the commission because of the importance of early childhood care development and Education (ECCDE), which when access is given to the child to acquire appropriate early stimulation, nurturing care and language skills at very early years in life.
According to him,the ECCDE framework will reinforced the effort targeted at eliminating the menace of Out-of –School children and elicit the attention of ministries, parastatals,local and international development partners to start direction efforts at promoting ECD in Nigeria.
In a signed press statement by David Apeh,Head Public Relations/Protocol, UBEC, Bobboi stressed that globally, records have shown that through play based activities at this foundational stage, the child develops and acquires skills for effective transition into the primary school as well as retention and completion of school.
He added that the Basic Education sub-sector has proven itself in all ramifications, to be a means to an end to so many educational challenges in Nigeria from poor reading habits, poor performance in Schools, lack of interest in acquiring basic and sustainable learning as well as the menace of Out of School.
“The commission has to kick start this process in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Education (FME) and UNICEF because it has the mandate to ensure uninterrupted access to qualitative functional early learning to all children within the age group of 3-5 years in Nigeria. Though, a lot of resource has been invested massively in the provision of learning materials in schools for the expansion of early Childhood Education delivery, the need for a roadmap cannot be over emphasized. This is because, the implementation of ECCDE requires synergy and collaboration as all levels since the early Childhood Development in holistic, inter sectorial, multidimensional and the foundation of all E education level”he said.
The 5 days interactive meeting the UBEC boss noted was organized to briefly review the implementation of ECCDE in Nigeria, understand its benefits, the best practices around the world in teaching and learning and the National Policy Document on Implementation of ECCDE,it’s Status in Nigeria with reference to the states in the North.
