Deepening UBE Law To Improve Education

The youngest Nobel Peace prize winner who survived gunshot injury in Pakistan,  Malala Yousafzai,  is quoted as saying: “One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world”  Incidentally, this remark  speaks  eloquently of the very foundation  of basic education across the world which deals with early child education also called nursery, primary and junior secondary. This stage of education is also referred to as  Basic Education, classified under the  Universal Basic Education Legal Framework. In Nigeria, the Universal Basic Education is governed by Law to regulate its operations. At this juncture, the UBE Act of 2004 comes to mind. American Statesman and politician, Theodore Roosevelt, once said; “No man is above the Law and no man is below it, nor do we ask a man’s permission when we ask him to obey it.” The law regulates society for public good. This presupposes that man by compulsion is required to obey the law to improve society for the public good of all.
In this regard, the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Law number four (4) 2005 was assented to  30th July 2005 by Governor Peter Odili after being passed into law by Rivers State House of Assembly under Right Honourable Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as speaker. Section one (1) of the law says every child of primary and Junior Secondary School age in Rivers State is provided free compulsory Universal Basic Education but this law does not apply to private schools.The law further states thus: “ The compulsory free Universal Basic Education shall be for a period of nine years comprising a 6-year primary education and 3-year junior secondary school education wherein every parent shall ensure that his or her child  attends and completes.  Section eleven sub section one (1) emphasises that services provided in primary and junior secondary school are free  while anyone/person who contravenes the order as captured in section eight (8) sub section (1) commits an offence and is liable to imprisonment of three months and a fine of ten thousand naira (N10,000) in the first instance, the law also states that the number of learners in a class be it primary school or junior secondary schools should not exceed thirty (30) pupils and students, anyone who disobeys the schools rules and regulations commits an offence and if found guilty shall be punished in accordance with the provision of the children and young persons  revised laws of Rivers State.
It insists that any punishment prescribed should not include corporal punishment. A scathing examination of the insinuations has left same basic questions unanswered. For instance, the concept of free compulsory Universal Basic Education has ignited more heat than light, particularly as many think that free education applies to provision of free uniform, sandals, books, water and feeding. A French philosopher, judge and historian popularly referred to as Montesquieu (18th January 1689-10th February 1755) States thus: “There is no greater tyranny than that which is perpetrated under the shield of the Law and in the name of justice” It is common knowledge that the chairman of the Universal Basic Education Board, Doctor Fyneface Ndubisi Akah, recently suspended two principals of Junior Secondary School section of Community Secondary School Rumuoawholu and Community Secondary School Okoronudeu both in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, over their involvement in the collection of illegal charges.
The UBE Board boss, Doc tor Akah, also charged all other head teachers and principals who have collected such illegal charges to refund same or face unpleasant consequences.The Rivers State Commissioner for Education had stated categorically clear that basic education up to senior secondary school is free in Rivers State.Matters arising from the suspension and the commissioner’s charge are that learners in public schools in Rivers State have been left with coat of many colours whereas uniforms are similar and not truly uniform since parents and guardians buy them by themselves and sew to avoid accusation by UBE Board. It has been observed that government does not pay impres to run the Public schools and the levies to purchase toiletries to maintain the restrooms’ are illegal.Similarly, school premises are unkempt as learners and school administrators wrestle with keeping reptiles away.
Unfortunately, members of Parents Teachers Association (PTA), School Based Management Committee (SBMC) are threatened with sledge hammers and other punitive measures from the UBE Board and Ministry of Education in the state in aiding and abetting collection of illegal charges. Worsestill, some schools have over 30 learners per class with little or no new  schools being established by government to cope with exodus of learners from private schools to the public sector due largely to economic crunch attributable to fuel subsidy removal. In the present circumstances, basic schools are inundated with a plethora of challenges. One classic example of challenges confronting UBE schools as well as senior secondary schools include teachers attrition arising from retirement and death of teachers.
It would be recalled that the immediate past administration of former Governor Nyesom Wike placed an embargo on employment of civil servants including teachers for over seven years until recently Governor Siminalayi Fubara commenced recruitment. This development had adverse effect on teaching and learning in public schools, where some schools had only one or two teachers. Unfortunately, it is said that when gold rust,  what would iron do? It was a sad narrative that Rivers State was ranked among States not only in South-South but the whole country with out-of-school children of school age which the State is battling to filling the gap. Some large communities have limited numbers of schools causing learners to walk distances to access school. Private schools that hitherto were regarded in Nigeria in the 1960s, 70s and 80s are now sub-standard, the glorified and honoured even when public schools parade skilled manpower than their private counterparts.
It is therefore, pertinent for government to properly fund education by providing infrastructure to make teaching and learning environment conducive and attractive.Government must articulate a way forward to allow school heads and principals carry out  moderate chargeable fees to manage the schools.The theme of 2023 World Teachers Day is “The Teachers we need for the Education we Want; the Global Imperative to Reverse Teachers Shortage. Speaking in an interview, the Rivers State Chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Doctor Colins Echikpu appealed to the State Government to employ more eight thousand teachers to reverse teachers shortage in the State. He expressed delight over the theme of World Teachers Day 2023 tagged “The Teachers We Need for Education We Want”. The Global Imperative to Reverse Teachers Shortage. Dr Echikpu expressed appreciation for the two thousand teachers recently employed by the State Government but regretted that the number would not address the deficit in the State.
The NUT boss, commended the State Government for promoting Teachers and implementing benefits, saying that it will boost  their morale. He also commended the UBE Board Chairman, Doctor Fyneface Akah, for suspending the Principals who were involved in illegal collection of fees and other charges. According to him, Head Teachers and Principals  should always seek approval from the Board and the Ministry of Education while also urging them to engage in what he called School Community Relationship in addressing challenges of schools. Doctor Colins Echikpu charged Parents- Teachers- Association, PTA and School Based Management Committee, SBMC, to support government in the task of promoting conducive environment for teaching and learning, while calling on the State Government to implement the new retirement age for teachers as passed into law in April 2022. PTA and SBMC must be involved as well as the Local Government Areas, CDCs, churches, who use the school premises for various outreaches must be given room for collaboration.
Education for all is the responsibility of all. To realise this dream, all hands must be on deck through collaboration of stakeholders. For instance, Parents Teachers Association and School Based Management  Committees must be involved. State Governments must not depend solely on intervention of Federal Government counterpart funding of Universal Basic Education Commission UBEC-UBE Initiative. What incentives are there for teachers on transfer to Rural Areas? The time to act is now.

By: Baridorn Sika
Sika is a public affairs  analyst.