By Kwin Israel, The Sight News
The Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Dr. Hamid Bobboi, has said that Early Childhood Care Development and Education (ECCDE) is taking centre stage in basic education delivery in the country.
Speaking during a five-day stakeholder engagement meeting on the development of a roadmap on effective implementation of (ECCDE) in Kaduna, the UBEC boss said the change in Education System is paramount to the commission because of the importance of ECCDE, as it gives access to the child to acquire appropriate early stimulation, nurturing care and language skills at very early years in life.
In a statement signed by the Head Public Relations and Protocol of the Commission, David Apeh, the UBEC boss noted that the ECCDE framework will reinforce government’s effort targeted at eliminating the menace of Out-of-School children and elicit the attention of ministries, parastatals and local and international development partners to start directing efforts at promoting (ECCDE) in Nigeria.
He stressed that globally, records have shown that through play-based activities at this foundational stage, the child develops and acquires skills for effective transition into the primary school as well as retention and completion of school.
According to him the Basic Education sub-sector has proven itself in all ramifications, to be a means to an end to so many educational challenges in Nigeria, from poor reading habits, poor performance in Schools, lack of interest in acquiring basic and sustainable learning to the very devastating one that the whole world is talking about and earnestly looking for solution to which is the menace of Out-of–School.
“The Commission has to kick start this process in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) because it has the mandate to ensure uninterrupted access to qualitative functional early learning to all children within the age group of 3-5 years in Nigeria.
“Though a lot of resources have been invested massively in the provision of learning materials in schools for the expansion of early Childhood Education delivery, the need for a roadmap cannot be over emphasized. This is because, the implementation of ECCDE requires synergy and collaboration at all levels, since the early Childhood Development is holistic, intersectorial, multidimensional and the foundation of all education level”, he concluded.
