Federal Government To Implement Accelerated Basic Education Programme To Improve Access

The federal government has expressed its readiness to roll out the accelerated basic education programme that will enable disadvantaged children between the ages of 10 and 18 years have access to education.

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, who was speaking when he received the new curriculum developed by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) for the Accelerated Basic Education Programme (ABEP) from the Executive Secretary of the Council, Professor Junaidu Ismail in Abuja, noted that all stakeholders would be carried along to ensure successful implementation of the programme.

Adamu, who bemoaned the high level of illiteracy in the country, stated that the projection of the government was that in the next five years, the country should attain 90 per cent literacy rate with the accelerated programme and other programmes put in place by the ministry.

The minister who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Sonny Echono, said obsolete curriculum posed a big problem to quality education in the country, adding that the review of basic education curriculum would be taken into consideration.

He revealed that the National Universities Commission (NUC) has commenced a review of the curriculum of universities and that this would be ready soon.

The Executive Secretary of NERDC, Prof Junaidu Ismail, on his part said that the programme was implemented in partnership with Plan International, under the EU-Borno project being funded by European Union.

He revealed that the programme and curriculum were approved for implementation by the National Council of Education at its 64th meeting in Port Harcourt in 2019 and was piloted in Borno with 54 learning centers. He said over 8,000 learners have enrolled.