The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) have stressed the need for education stakeholders to support efforts toward developing and sustaining a viable book policy.
UBEC Head, Public Relations and Protocol Unit, Mr. Ossom Ossom, said in a statement in Abuja on Thursday that they expressed their view during the 19th Quarterly Meeting of UBEC Management with the Executive Chairmen SUBEBs held in Asaba, Delta State.
Ossom said in the statement that the issue of book policy was the focus of the deliberations.
He said that the meeting provided the opportunity for the basic education sub-sector managers to share their experiences, particularly on the theme “Textbooks Policy: An Effective Tool for Enhancing Delivery of Qualitative Basic Education in Nigeria”.
He said there were strategic presentations on the theme and discussions centred on the challenges associated with the provision, distribution and utilisation of instructional materials.
‘’There was also a discussion on the need for certification of recommended textbooks by Nigerian Educational Research Development Council (NERDC), toward improving and sustaining the required quality and standard in basic education.
“The meeting recommended among other things, that UBEC, NERDC, SUBEBs and other key stakeholders should review guidelines for assuring quality in instructional materials deployed for the UBE programme.
“It was also recommended that other states should emulate the initiative of Benue State in translating textbooks in core subjects into indigenous languages in liaison with publishers and relevant agencies.’’
He said that the two-day meeting was declared opened by Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, who was represented by Mr Chiedu Ebie, the state Commissioner of Basic and Secondary Education.
He said that the meeting had in attendance Prof. Anthony Anwukah, Minister of State for Education, Dr Hamid Bobboyi, UBEC Executive Secretary, and Prof. Ismail Junaidu, Executive Secretary, NERDC.
Others were UBEC Deputy Executive Secretaries (Technical and Services), Dr Sharon ‘Rowo Oriero-Oviemuno, and Dr Yakubu Gambo, respectively.
UBEC Management and other Executive Chairmen from the 36 SUBEBs and the FCT also attended.
The participants paid a courtesy visit to Okowa, the Asagba of Asaba and later inspected selected UBE projects in Delta State. (NAN)