The Universal Basic Education Commission UBEC says it partnership with the Nigerian Society of Engineers is to ensure standards in the construction , renovation , provision of water facilities and other aspects of infrastructure in public basic schools across the Country.
The Commission also stated that the role of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria COREN , is to make sure that all buildings in public basic schools has it certification and well built enough to add value to Nigerian classrooms.
The Executive Secretary of the UBEC, Dr Hammid Bobboyi, said these in Abuja on Wednesday during a one day meeting with COREN Inspectors for monitoring UBEC/State Universal Basic Education Board SUBEB matching grants intervention programmes in 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory.
Bobboyi also disclosed that the engagement of COREN for monitoring and evaluation of UBEC projects would add value to the efforts being put in place to ensure quality basic education delivery in the country.
According to Dr. Bobboyi, over 50percent of the entire basic education budget is allocated to infrastructural development across basic schools in Nigeria.
“The standard of buildings in the public schools started declining,the quality of the classrooms retrogressed in the last 30years, it is unacceptable to a nation like Nigeria”.
He restated that the Commission is still facing challenges of access of matching grants by States while it also grapple with lack of uniformity in it intervention programmes.
“The challenge of accessing matching grant is still visible among the states following the processes involved and we are also facing the problem of lack of uniformity”
“The capacity of State is another major challenge we observed that the states do not have many qualified personnel to carry out these projects they need further training and mentorship”.
“UBEC is facing challenges of adequate utilisation of these funds in coming up with structures that can stand testt of time hence the engagement of the Engineering Regulations Monitoring committee to facilitate infrastructure that can last” The UBEC Boss added.
