The Universal Basic Education Commission UBEC has not only developed the process of deepening capacity building and development for its workforce, but had made it a routine exercise across all departments and units.
Twice in two months , the commission under the leadership of Dr Hamid Bobboyi as the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer ES/CEO has organized two separate orientation, awareness and 4 day capacity building for its staff in Ibadan , the Oyo state Capital , with a view to impacting and imparting the knowledge of Effective Schools Program (ESP) and 5 day financial training for SUBEBs Chairmen, Secretaries and some senior staff and directors of the commission.
This was a clear indicator of the seriousness and uniqueness the commission had attached to staff development, capacity building, skill development and on the job training that involved both modest, modern and technology age.
Therefore, as part of series of programs been introduced to promote Basic Education particularly at the elementary level , the Effective Schools Program (ESP), got utmost priority so as to complement other program like Smart Education, Vocational Education, School To Work, Alternate School and Learning Crises capable of driving the quest for a technology driven Basic Education in the country.
The Effective Schools Program ESP, meant to train some numbers of trainers to the tune of 56 from the Southern part of Oyo, North Central of Kwara and Kogi simultaneously by the Universal Basic Education Commission UBEC experts in Nigeria.
Having engaged in this exercise consecutively for a week long, it is capable of enhancing the quality of Basic Education and accessibility in the country.
Recall the incidences of learning crises across Basic Education learners occasioned by mother tongue and other unforseen circumstances, along with the dreaded resultant negative development of out of school children OOSC, the introduction of effective schools program ESP was tailored towards addressing the negative trend to the positive results.
The train the trainers otherwise known as "Master trainers" , the core activities of Effective Schools Program is expected to train designated teachers in 111 schools across the country, including the federal capital territory FCT, with three each per senatorial district as pilot program which will gradually spread across the country to 327 Effective Schools Program schools, as centre of excellence.
Having embarked on the mission of introducing the Effective Schools Program ESP among many others, it is expected to promote accelerated Basic Education simultaneously with Smart Education, Technical skills in the area of introduction of Vocational Education, so as to leverage on modern technology that is desiring in the 21st century.
With the initiative of the establishment of 37 smart schools across the country and FCT, and the construction of the state of art Digital Resource Centre (DRC), the seamless coordination and harmonization of all the programs will galvanize the impart of Basic Education in Nigeria.
With the trickling down of the "Master Trainers" template to an initial 111 across the country, no doubt it will gradually tripled to 327 Effective Schools across the country on the long run in line with the policy thrust.
With the engagement of the 56 "Master Trainers " and the establishment of 111 schools across board, it will arouse another chapter designed to improve instructional skills, tools and practices for both the Educators and Learners.
It is also capable of introducing a new perspective, practices to learning across not only the 111 previously designated as UBEC E- Learning centres, but naturally tripled and with room for more in the subsequent years.
Having envisaged the administrative wisdom of convening such laudable programs including the Effective Schools Program (ESP), the effectiveness of the newly introduced program remained sacrosanct by the leadership of the commission.
With the new innovation encapsulated in a technology driven template, no doubt confronting the new 21st century will be a forgone conclusion.
Yusuf Writes from Abuja on [email protected].
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