UBEC Strengthens 10-year Old Mathematics, Science Initiatives

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The Universal Basic Education Commission, (UBEC) has strengthened the capacity of its 10-year old Nigerian version of Strengthening of Mathematics and Science Education (SMASE) as well as Jolly Phonics initiatives for teachers across the country.

UBEC, said the Jolly Phonics programme had been adopted as the flagship programme of the Commission on early grade reading.

Speaking at a workshop yesterday, in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, explained that SMASE and Jolly Phonics needed to be strengthened in order to continuously inject Teachers Professional Development (TPD) fund into the training of teachers to build their capacity in SMASE.

Bobboyi, who was represented by the Deputy ES, Prof. Bala Zakari, noted that SMASE had been a major programme that has helped in strengthening the study of science and mathematics in basic education.

According to him, the Commission has continuously injected the TPD fund into the training of teachers in order to build teachers capacity in SMASE.

“The two programmes have been implemented over ten years in the UBE programmes. I make bold to say that SMASE has been a major programme that has helped in strengthening the study of science and mathematics in the UBE.

“Having adopted SMASE after its introduction by JICA in 2006 and piloted in 3 States of Kaduna, Plateau and Niger has also placed the teaching of science and mathematics with the methodology prescribed in the SMASE programme in a place of priority,” he added.

Also speaking, the Director of Teachers Development in the commission, Aleshin Olumayowa, said SMASE was used to train teachers on how to improvise as well as how to help learners in learning science and mathematics.

Olumayowa, added that it also helps teachers to teach the subjects effectively and also enhance assimilation by learners and jolly phonics is a flagship reading program of the commission.

“If the teacher does not know how to deliver and deliver properly, a learner will not learn and learning outcomes that we’re expecting will not be there. So if you build the capacity of the teacher to effectively deliver and deliver whatever subject that is handling, deliver it so that the learners can learn it in a very simple and effective way,” he added.