Musa Na Allah, Sokoto
The Chairman of the Sokoto State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Umar Nagwari Tambuwal, has called on the Sokoto State Government to consider a reduction in the funding strategy of higher education while suggesting the redirection of such funds to strengthen basic education in the state.
He said investing in basic education is a practice embraced by many developed countries, including those in Europe, the UK, and the United States, to achieve improved academic outcomes.
The UBEB’s focus on enhancing basic education stems from its critical role in shaping the educational future of many children.
To further this goal, the UBEB has established a network at its state headquarters to engage with global stakeholders, providing a platform for advice and suggestions aimed at improving the system.
Na Gwari expressed optimism, stating that investing in basic education is crucial.
A solid foundation in this stage of education, he believes, enables students to gain admission to top universities worldwide without external assistance.
He also underscored that basic education is the bedrock of all future academic and professional pursuits. Na Gwari called for an educational transformation, particularly in adopting modern teaching methods and integrating technology, to remain competitive with global standards.
As part of its efforts to enhance education, the board has introduced a new teaching method, using the mother tongue to teach pupils in primary grades one to three.
This initiative helps students better understand sounds, read, identify numbers, and construct sentences.
This method has been implemented in collaboration with Plan International, and early results indicate notable improvements in reading abilities and knowledge retention among pupils.
However, Na Gwari acknowledged that the success of such teaching methods requires ongoing training and retraining.
Currently, the board employs 27,000 teachers, with 8,000 having undergone specialized training through the Board’s Education and Capacity program (BEC).
Despite this, Sokoto faces a significant challenge with an average of 41 children per teacher, far exceeding the international standard of 21 pupils per teacher.
This gap highlights the urgent need for the recruitment of more teachers to meet the desired ratio and ensure quality education for all students.
