The executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education (UBEC) Dr Dikko Suleiman has said that assuring quality is a major challenge in basic education system.
Dr. Suleiman who disclosed this in an address at the opening of the training of quality assurance officers of Niger state Universal Education Board noted that the quality dimension has become imperative in the provision of basic education since it is a fundamental determinant for achieving the goal of equality, such as achievement, enrolment and retention.
According to him, quality assurance is committed to improving all aspects of educational quality and recognized immeasurable learning outcome as well as contributions to the achievement of acceptance standards that one maintained and enhanced through human and material resources of good quality.
Suleiman who was represented by the director, quality assurance, Dr Christian C. Agomoh said assuring quality is a major challenge in the basic education system due to incidence of infrastructural decay, declining standards as well as maladministration.
Other challenges include limited synergy among relevant stakeholders for departments resulting in institutional constraints and role conflict, scarcity of current and reliable date on quality issues and how learning outcomes in literacy, numeracy and life skills.
He said at the end of the meeting, participants are expected to imbibe and be updated on the principles of quality assurance, be well equipped with relevant and necessary skills required to conduct effective quality assurance in schools and be able to write good quality assurance reports after school visits.
“There is no doubt that the outcome of this meeting will strengthen and improve the capacity of the quality assurance officers for better and more effective performance of their statutory functions in the SUBEB as well as contribute immensely to the improvement of basic education in Nigeria”. He said.
