TOYIN ADEBAYO, ABUJA
The Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Hamid Bobboyi has called for the support of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for the establishment of a Digital Resource Center in the nation’s capital.
Saying that the establishment of such a Center became imperative with the COVID-19 Pandemic where students had to take online classes.
Bobboyi made this known when he led a delegation of top management staff of the Commission on a courtesy visit on the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello yesterday in his office on Abuja.
He, however, commended the FCT Administration for having one of the highest number of qualified teachers in the country.
He said “One of the challenges that we have in the country has been the area of qualified teachers. Looking at what is available in other parts of the country, we are very much encouraged looking at the picture here in the FCT. Despite the challenges, the FCT is deemed to have one of the highest qualified teacher numbers in the country.
He continued “Others have unqualified ratios that are very appalling. In primary schools, again, FCT qualified teachers are much higher, well above 86 percent, while at junior secondary school, you have up to about 88 percent to almost 90 percent. So, it’s a trend that we encourage for the simple fact that without qualified teachers, it’s very difficult to establish a qualitative educational system in the country.
Boboyyi added that; “We want to extend our congratulation to you for superintending over a basic education sector that is performing very well here in the FCT. We have been visiting some of the schools, we have been looking at a lot of issues that take place within the FCT because the Commission itself is located within the FCT and its staff are also of course within the city”.
He also commended the FCT Administration for accessing its UBEC funds up to 2019 saying that many other states were still struggling adding that the FCTA has utilized the resources judiciously with the provision of infrastructure.
While speaking on the problem of out-of-school children, the UBEC Executive Secretary also said that the efforts of the FCTA in this regard has substantially reduced the number of out-of-school children in the Territory.
Earlier in his response, the FCT Minister , Malam Muhammad Musa Bello thanked Bobboyi for the commendation and said the development of education remains a priority for the FCT Administration.
Speaking on the establishment of the Digital Resource Center, Bello pledged the support of the FCTA saying that it would be very difficult for agencies such as UBEC to function efficiently without leveraging on technology.
Also at the meeting the Deputy Executive Secretary (Services) of UBEC, Executive Secretary (Technical) Dr Bala Zakari, the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa, the Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu, Ag Secretary for Education, Alh. Umaru Marafa, executive Chairman, FCT UBEB, Dr Kabir Matazu, amongst others.
