FCT UBEB seeks support for free, compulsory education

The FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), has called for support and collaboration on activities that would enhance and showcase the standard of education in the FCT.
Acting Chairman, FCT UBEB, Alh. Alhassan Sule, made the declaration when he led the Head-to-Head Debate Committee members when the team sought for advocacy synergy with the Ag. Director of FCT Reform Coordination and Service Improvement Department, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu.
Alhassan explains that: “the Head-to-Head debate is mainly aimed at bringing children from the grassroots to serve as ambassadors to their various communities to clear the misconception on western education and about girl-child education.
“We are programmed and have started identifying children from local communities with the help of the headteachers.
“These children would also serve as ambassadors that would spread the news that free, but compulsory education is actually free without the need to pay a kobo and compulsory.”
He further opined that the Head-to-Head debate is aimed at putting out of school children back in school through the advocacy of the Free but Compulsory Education. He noted that so far, the Head-to-Head debate has been effective in this regard as enrollment has increased in so many of our schools”.
He however, noted that these activities require a huge financial and infrastructural commitment, which the FCT UBEB cannot bear alone.
“For instance, the reality show competition we intended to televise was not possible, because we camped the children in their various schools and then whenever they were needed, they’ll rush down to their schools again.
“But if there was a well equipped facility, we would do everything we need to do in one space without moving about and without the worry about insecurity and other things”, the FCT UBEB boss stressed.
He therefore, appealed to Dr. Ahmadu to help get the commitment of the FCTA and all Secretariats, Departments and Agencies (SDAs) of the FCTA to ensure a productive initiative, giving the assurance that it would not only produce responsible Nigerians but would also give be a good image to the Administration in the global world.
According to him, “As I speak, we have a project on-going in Karahi, for a school where all learning activities would be digitalized, this would bring the FCT and in fact Nigeria up to date on global educational trends and standards.”
Similarly, the Secretary of the Head-to-Head committee, Mr. Kalu Ifeanyi, in his remarks, explained that the committee plans on carrying out a number of activities that would involve students and schools from the suburbs, these activities includes debates, essay writing, science expositions, literary competitions and a reality TV show, to crown it all.
He emphasized that rather than get carried away by BBN and the likes, children would get better educational content from the reality TV show involving students from different schools and backgrounds.