Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), has emphasized that Nigeria is currently grappling with a significant learning crisis, urging immediate action to address this pressing issue. Speaking at a two-day stakeholder dialogue in Abuja, Bobboyi highlighted the potential hindrance to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) if the learning crisis is not promptly tackled.
Referring to a report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Bobboyi revealed a concerning statistic: approximately three out of four children aged 6 to 14 in Nigeria cannot read a text with understanding or solve basic mathematics problems.
Despite various interventions by the Federal Government, State Governments, and International Development Partners, the learning crisis persists. Factors contributing to this challenge include limited access to instructional materials, especially in the local language, poor teaching quality, insufficient parental guidance, and a lackadaisical attitude of states towards implementing language policies in basic education.
Bobboyi stressed the importance of fundamental learning, emphasizing its critical role in developing productive citizenship, fostering sustainable development, ensuring national cohesion, and promoting peace and prosperity. He called for frank discussions among stakeholders to formulate actionable steps for addressing the crisis.
Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, Bobboyi assured that UBEC remains undaunted and is actively seeking input from stakeholders to develop comprehensive roadmaps for overcoming the learning crisis. In a keynote address, Prof Ismail Junaidu, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), advocated for the implementation of the National Language Policy as a crucial step toward improving the education landscape.
