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| Last Updated: Jan 19th, 2012 - 11:25:19 |
Office of First Lady
First Lady commends Federal Government intervention in the provision of UBE school text books
Nov 20, 2009, 08:44
| | The First Lady of Nigeria, Hajia Turai Umaru Yar’Adua has commended the Federal Government for intervention in the provision of text books for the UBE schools and urged States and Local Governments to make adequate budgetary provision for basic education and ensure that all pupils in basic schools possess the required text books every year.
Hajia Turai Yar’Adua gave the commendation on Thursday November 19th, in Abuja at the flag off ceremony of the provision of textbooks for primary four English Language and Mathematics text books and Science – Based Activity Book along with Library books for Junior Secondary School (JSS) for distribution to all States of the Federation and FCT.
Emphasizing the importance of basic school in the education system, the First Lady noted that it is at that point that basic values of Nation building are instilled into the minds of children who are leaders of tomorrow adding that a sound basic education will eventually produce adequate manpower to drive this administration‘s Seven Point Agenda and Vision 20 – 20 -20.
Noting that the day’s event is the first time such massive injection of text books into primary school system on a national scale is being undertaken, the first Lady who acknowledged the fact that textbook is one of the most important factor that influence teaching and learning in the school systems stated that availability of textbooks to pupils is of utmost concern to all stakeholders interested in the delivery of basic education in Nigeria.
Hajia Turai Yar’Adua announced her plans to distribute instructional materials and library equipments to basic schools very soon and as a prelude, she used the occasion to symbolically distribute textbooks and school materials to six students representing the six geo-political zones in the country.
Earlier, the Minister of State for Education, Hajia Aishatu Jibril Dukku said that a total of 7,962,812 copies of primary four English Language, Mathematics and Science based Activity Books and 494,875 copies of 107 titles of Library books for JSS have all been procured at a total cost of N4, 287,673,335.63.
Hajia Dukku who disclosed that books will be distributed on equality of State basis in line with disbursement guidelines for FGN-UBE Intervention Fund stated that to ensure sustainability for the benefit of the Nigerian Child and overall development of the basic education sub-sector, the Federal Executive Council in approving the formula for the allocation of the Intervention Fund to various components had ensured that 15% of the fund is for the provision of instructional materials.
While noting that the allocation gives an assurance of a yearly supply of some textbooks to the school system, the Minister urged State governments to make deliberate efforts to take the lead in the provision of instructional materials in their schools, since the Federal Government intervention in this respect cannot meet the book requirement in the basic school system.
The Minister further emphasized that the books are free and to ensure this, the books have customized features such as FNG-UBE Intervention- “Not for Sale” printed boldly on the front outer surface of the cover.
It is noteworthy that in an effort to ensure that books are available to pupils in the country, the Federal Government has set appropriate mechanisms for the procurement of textbooks by the Federal Ministry of Education through Universal Basic Education Commission.
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