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From The Headmistress’ Desk (2005/2006 YEAR BOOK)
WHAT
IS THE UNIVERSAL BASIC EDUCATION (UBE) SCHEME?
There are so many questions on the mind of teachers, pupils and parents about “UNIVERSAL BASIC EDUCATION”. Such questions include the following:
The universal basic education is the operational tag given to the new policy on education. Universal means all over the world, basic means the minimum requirement. Therefore, the Universal Basic Education is the minimum educational requirement acceptable all over the world as at today.
Primary 9 as it is called is nothing but the simple name people in Nigeria give the extension of compulsory education. The Nigeria new policy on education has made it compulsory for parent/guardian to give their children/ward the minimum educational background which is the first nine years of schooling. Moreover, each year uses the module specified for their level e.g. Basic I uses module one…Basic 6 uses module 6, Basic 7-9 uses module 7-9 respectively. However, the Basic 1-6 are the primary school level as we understand it, while Basic 7-9 are in the junior high school/junior colleges. Please note that the Lagos state government has separated the administration of the junior and the senior secondary schools in the past two years in readiness for this policy.
If the educational policy compels the minimum education on the citizens, it also means that the Federal Government will be responsible for the cost of educating these children. It has become a crime, for any parent/guardian not to send their children/ward to school, when they are of school age i.e. 6yrs-15yrs, which is punishable by law.
Deduction from the above analysis confirms that 6-3-3-4 system of education is still in operation in Nigeria. What has changed? The fist school leaving certificate will not be given to pupils who successfully completer primary 6. The certificate will be awarded after the completion of Basic 9 if and only if there is evidence of continuous assessment from 1-9. Please be informed that the Lagos State Government had collected the data of all pupils/student in Lagos State as at 2005/2006 academic session, had given each one of them a “Student Personal Identification Number” (SPIN), which will be used to trace the educational progress of these children. If a pupil/student wants to skip a class, such pupil/student will be detected and punished accordingly. If you are yet to collect your child/ward’s “SPIN” please go to their school to collect it. It is a life long personal number.
My message to all parents/guardians this session is please do not encourage your child to skip any of the classes between Basic 1 to Basic 9 for their own good.
Ma Salam
