UBEC and SUBEBS harp on the need for an effective textbook policy for Nigeria.

The   Universal   Basic   Education Commission   (UBEC)   and   State Universal   Basic   Education   Boards

(SUBEBs)  have harped on the need for education stakeholders to support efforts   in   developing,   implementing and   sustaining a  viable book policy for   Nigeria’s   education   sector.

This was the focus of deliberations at the 19th Quarterly Meeting of Universal Basic   Education   Commission (UBEC)   Management   with   the Executive Chairmen of States and the FCT   Universal   Basic   Education Boards   (SUBEBs)   held   at   the Government House, Asaba, Delta State, from Monday, 10th to Wednesday 13th July, 2017.

The 19thQuarterly meeting provided 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”.

The 2-day meeting which was declared open by Executive Governor of Delta State, His Excellency

Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, (represented by the Honourable Commissioner for Basic and Secondary

Education Barr. Chiedu Ebie) had in attendance the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Prof.

Anthony   Gozie  Anwukah;   UBEC   Executive   Secretary,   Dr   Hamid   Bobboyi;   Nigeria   Educational

Research   and   Development   Council   (NERDC)  Executive   Secretary,   Prof.   Ismail   Junaidu;   UBEC

Deputy Executive Secretaries (Technical and Services), Dr. Sharon ‘Rowo Oriero-Oviemuno and Dr.

Yakubu  N.  Gambo,  respectively; UBEC  Management and  other  Executive  Chairmen  from  the  36

States and FCT UBEB among others.

Strategic  presentations   were   made  on   the  theme  of   the   meeting  and   discussions   centered   on   the challenges associated with the provision, distribution and utilization of instructional materials, the need for certification of recommended textbooks by NERDC towards 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 and guidelines for assuring quality in instructional materials deployed for

the UBE programme and 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.



Participants at the 19th Quarterly meeting also took time off to pay a courtesy call on the Executive

Governor of Delta State, the Asagba of Asaba and also visit selected UBE projects in Delta State.