In search to eliminate disparity in the quality and standards of basic certificate of education the Federal Ministry of Education has organised a review meeting for the harmonisation of Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
This was made known at a two day meeting on Wednesday in Ilorin is for Registrars and Chief Executive Officers of states and FCT examination bodies.
In a statement released to newsmen, the Director, Basic Education Department, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Folake Olatunji-David, said the meeting was expected to provide opportunity to take stock of the progress and also weak areas in the education sector.
The Director who was represented at the meeting by the Deputy Director, Junior Secondary Education, Mrs Edith Osanyinpeju, asserted that the he meeting was for harmonisation of BECE procedures aligning with the guidelines of educational policies in all states.
”This is for advancing the course of integrated national development, we want to ensure that the instrument of testing at the Basic Education level is generally of the same standard and that the Basic Education Certificate obtained is universally acceptable for admission into any senior secondary school nationwide” she said.
She charged all Registrars/Directors of States and FCT Examination bodies to re-orientate, develop and establish a realistic tradition expected to assist in the achievement of an effective and lasting harmonisation and standardisation of BECE nationwide.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission, Mr Hamid Bobboyi, said the commission attaches great importance in achieving better learning outcomes of Junior secondary school learners in BECE.
Bobboyi, was also represented at the meeting by the Deputy Director, Quality Assurance, Federal Ministry of Education, Alhaji Abdulquadr Ibrahim, who said the quality of learning outcomes at this level can affect learners’ performances at higher education level and resulting to a greater impact on the entire education system.
The Permanent Secretary, Kwara Ministry of Education, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, said as the BECE is the minimum mandatory certificate in Nigeria, it is important to give the conduct of the examination all the necessary attention to unify it’s results. ”This is the foundation in Nigeria today and we must endeavour to get it right from the beginning. The meeting is a necessity to streamline the conduct of the examination and to deliberate on the best practices and encourage all states, including the FCT, to adopt the same modality to improve the activities of the Basic Examination,” she said.
Dr Ayodele Asebiomo, from the University of Abuja who delivered a paper at the meeting, tasked the government to invest more on basic education to address the scourge of social vices.
He said investment in education would save the government and the society more than could be imagined.
Others at the meeting were Mrs Hamdalat Shagaya, Deputy Director, Curriculum and Assessment, Kwara Ministry of Education, and Alhaji Abdullateef Idiagbon, who represented the Chairman, Kwara SUBEB, Prof. Shehu Adaramaja.
