Authorities of Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board recently met with all Education Secretaries in the state with to proffer solution to the challenges confronting enrolment, retention and completion in public primary schools in the state.
The meeting which is the fourth(4) under the Executive Chairman of the Board, Hon. Muhammad Musa Dan’azimi was convened to identify factors responsible for the low enrolment in public primary schools with a view to addressing them.
A statement issued by Gana Lawal Ahmed, Public Relations Officer of the Board says stakeholders during the meeting also identified lack of teachers; proliferation of private schools; lack of sensitisation and mobilisation; communal crisis; deliberate withdrawal of pupils for farming and marriages; non enforcement of UBEC law on enrollment and retention as factors responsible for low enrolment and retention in public primary schools in the state.
Also speaking, one the education secretaries and who is also the Chairman Education Secretaries Forum in the state Comrade Jibril Danladi Nayawo, suggested that civil servants including of all categories including those in the education system should stop patronising private schools in the state.
He also said that the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board should embark on advocacy visits to traditional rulers and community leaders; intensify publicity on both electronic and print media; stage a campaign on sensitisation and awareness in market squares, Mosques, Churches, encourage literacy and numeracy and enforcement of UBE law amongst others.
Another issued raised during the meeting was the issue of the nonchalant attitude of teachers towards work.
The Executive Chairman, Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board, Hon. Muhammad Musa Dan’azimi, expressed dissatisfaction with the high level of truancy and absenteeism by teachers in the school.
He tasked Community leaders in the state on the need to take ownership of Government projects by ensuring proper maintenance of projects sited in their domain to ensure its durability as well as promote maintenance culture of furniture in schools in their domain.
Dan’azimi, disclosed the Board has been operating an open door policy and so appeal to stakeholders to leverage on this and join the crusade to revamping the primary school system.
He warn contractors handling school projects to adhere to specification and ensure standard as according to him the Board will no longer tolerate any shaddy execution of projects by contractors across the state.
He appreciated Governor Abdullahi A. Sule, the Executive Governor, Nasarawa State for prompt release of funds to match Federal Government’s Grant through UBEC which has assisted SUBEB and the state over the years.