The Executive Council of the Federation (ECF) has approved N5.8 billion for the purchase of books and instruction materials in public schools.

The Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, made the statement while briefing State House correspondents after an ECF meeting, presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Akunyili said the fund would be used, specifically, to print and distribute, English Language and Mathematics textbooks to primary five pupils in  public schools.

She also said the fund would be used to provide assorted library resource materials in public junior secondary schools.

“It will be recalled that Council at its meeting of August 27, 2008, approved the utilisation of 15 per cent of the 2 per cent Consolidated Revenue Fund as intervention fund for procurement of instruction materials to enhance universal basic education in Nigerian public schools.

“The annual intervention commenced with the printing and distribution of textbooks for primary four, using the 2008 grants as approved by Council,’’ she said.

Also speaking, the Minister of Education, Prof Ruquyyat Rufai, said the books would be distributed free to all public schools. 

The minister also said that the books would be distributed based on the needs of students in every state.

The Tide’s source reports that three indigenous publishers – Macmillan,  Longman and Evans Brothers – were awarded the contract for the printing and distribution of the books within six weeks.

Meanwhile, the education minister has said that the recent abysmal performance of students in the NECO and other examinations nationwide was unacceptable to the government.

In addressing the problem, the minister said the ministry would convene an examination summit on May 17 to address the problem of mass failure in public examinations.

She said the summit would engage relevant stakeholders, including  examination bodies, students, teachers, parents and others, to discuss the problem and offer viable solutions.