The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has set up a National School-Based Management Committee (SBMC) as part of its ongoing efforts to improve the quality of education and strengthen accountability at the grassroots level.
The committee was inaugurated in Abuja by the immediate past executive secretary of UBEC, Dr Hamid Bobboyi, during a two-day capacity-building workshop and meeting with chairmen and secretaries of state chapters of SBMCs across Nigeria.
Bobboyi commended the commitment of the State SBMC chairmen, secretaries, and other stakeholders, including the newly formed interim body for the SBMC operations at the national level.
“I would like to thank each of you for honouring our invitation, actively participating, and demonstrating unwavering commitment to the noble cause of energising community involvement in UBE delivery. Your presence here reflects a collective vision for the future of the Nigerian child,” he said.
He further emphasised the significance of the two-day engagement, noting that it had greatly enhanced the understanding of decentralisation practices in basic education and the concept of school-based management and laid a solid foundation for the national structure of SBMCs in Nigeria.
“The collaborative spirit exhibited at this meeting will play a key role in ensuring that grassroots actors take ownership of basic education delivered in the interest of their children and future development,” Bobboyi added.
He also stressed UBEC’s tireless efforts in strengthening school communities and promoting the effective implementation of School-Based Management principles, which aim to transform schools into community engagement and empowerment hubs.
Earlier, Dr Ossom Ossom, Director of Social Mobilisation at UBEC, expressed his excitement over the vision to establish SBMC chairmen nationwide.
He noted that the commission had observed numerous organisations working effectively at the grassroots level and concluded that if SBMCs can function well locally, they can succeed nationally.
“This reasoning led the commission to give the green light for establishing SBMCs at the national level. Today, we have successfully elected national officials equipped to lead the SBMCs nationally,” he said.
