By Clement Idoko

Copyright tribuneonlineng

The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has launched strategic reform initiatives aimed at transforming the basic education sub-sector in the country.

The reform is also aimed at addressing the menace of out-of-school children, tackling learning poverty and significantly improve the quality of teaching and learning in primary and junior secondary schools.

Executive Secretary of UBEC, Aisha Garba, has then challenged public relations officers to drive the ongoing reforms in basic education through strategic communication, noting that as gatekeepers of information and shapers of narratives, the officers are the critical link between UBEC policies and the public it serves.

Garba spoke in Abuja while declaring open a two-day training programme for heads of public relations of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) held between September 15 and 16.

She disclosed that the commission had unveiled and is currently implementing articulated programmes specifically designed to revitalise basic education in the country.

She admitted that the landscape of basic education was challenging, noting however that the situation is changing rapidly with the aggressive efforts in addressing the education of out-of-school children, enhancing teacher training and development to empower educators, and fostering skills development and acquisition to prepare Nigerian children for the future.

She added that the strategic reforms had also enhanced seamless access to matching grants for state governments for implementation of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) programmes.

Represented at the event by the deputy executive secretary (Technical) Olajuwon Akinyemi, the UBEC boss underscored the important role of the information officers, saying the most brilliant policies and most dedicated efforts can fail to achieve their full potential if they are not effectively communicated.

She added that the training programme would enhance the performance of the officers in delivery of their mandates effectively and professionally as image-makers of the commission.

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“This is where you, our strategic communicators, come in. We are recognising the transformative potential and roles of communicating our efforts in the work we do. Your work breathes life into our policies. You are the storytellers who will convey the hope and the tangible benefits of the on-going reforms in the sector and our initiatives to every corner of your states.

“You are the bridge-builders who will foster trust and collaboration among parents, teachers, community leaders, and policymakers,” she stated.

Garba charged the public relations officers to translate the vision of the commission into a message that resonates in the hearts and minds of millions, with the ultimate goal of building a resilient, inclusive and equitable basic education system for every child, regardless of circumstance or ability.

“This is not just a job; it is a national calling. The statistics on out-of-school children, the challenges in teacher quality, and the need for modern skills are not just numbers on a page; they are a reality we are mandated to change,” she added.

She emphasised that the training programme was not just a business as usual but a deliberate programme aimed at sharpening tools, rethinking strategies, and embracing new and innovative ways to engage with the public. “We cannot afford to be reactive. We must be proactive, passionate, and persuasive champions for basic education,” she stated.