Education
UBEC school building collapse: FG warns contractors
The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has, on Monday, August 12, 2024, vowed to crack down on contractors engaging in the construction of substandard school building projects in Nigeria.
The government is arranging to deploy monitors to all school projects, warning contractors to improve or face the consequences.
Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, Executive Secretary of UBEC, mentioned this during training for the commission’s physical planning staff.
The training focused on using simple tools for on-the-spot project assessments to enhance quality delivery.
He urged stakeholders, including SUBEBs, to ensure high-quality school buildings and warned that substandard work wouldn’t be accepted.
From now on, the government demands high standards in the execution of educational infrastructure projects.
At an event with NBRRI and Tectonics Engineering Group, the UBEC boss stressed no tolerance for careless project execution.
UBEC will no longer accept poorly executed projects, ensuring higher standards for future work.
Dr. Bobboyi warned contractors about the risks of delivering substandard school infrastructure in the country.
He also reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to improving educational structures for a safe and conducive learning environment for Nigerian children.
“We are dealing with a very strategic sector, with children who are between the ages of five and six up to about 12 that are very vulnerable in any building collapse. We saw that when it happened in Jos.
“It is our responsibility to ensure that we take all necessary steps to build school infrastructure that are solid and can stand the test of time,” he stated. (SIC)
UBEC collaborates with NBRRI and COREN
Bobboyi stated the commission collaborates with NBRRI, led by Prof. Samson Duna, and has partnered with COREN.
This long-standing partnership ensures that COREN is included in state-level monitoring teams.
He said: “Instead of just looking at what is there and so on and so forth, it’s to go with the kind of gadgets that can also help us to test the strength of the materials being used.
“It’s our hope that with our partners, NBRRI and other stakeholders, as well as the State Universal Basic Education Boards, SUBEBs, in our effort to achieve good outcomes as far as these projects are concerned.”
Professor Samson Duna, NBRRI Director-General/CEO, praised the training program as a proactive step by UBEC.
He emphasized its importance in preventing frequent building collapses in Nigeria, especially in schools.
He said: “So I’m now throwing a warning to contractors involved in taking contracts in constructing schools without following the required specification. They should sit up.
“UBEC has come up with an idea of ascertaining the quality of construction materials used on site. The quality of concrete needs to be specified and the contractor must adhere to it.
“If he didn’t use it, the UBEC staff visiting the site are expected to travel with tools for inspection.
“Those tools will enable them to know if the contractor is using the right material and if the concrete used is in conformity with the design,” he said.
He reaffirmed his commitment to meeting concrete quality specs, using tools to measure it both wet and hardened.
About UBEC
UBEC stands for Universal Basic Education Commission.
The UBEC is a federal agency in Nigeria responsible for coordinating all aspects of the UBE program implementation.
This program aims to provide access to quality basic education for all Nigerians.
key points about UBEC
- Established in 1999, UBEC oversees its program’s implementation.
- Mandate: The commission’s primary goal is to ensure access to quality basic education for all Nigerian children.
- Focus areas:
- Primary education (ages 6-11)
- Junior secondary education (ages 12-14)
- Nomadic education
- Special education
- Responsibilities:
- Policy formulation and implementation
- Funding and resource allocation
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Teacher training and development
- Programs and initiatives:
- National Personnel Audit – School census
- Teacher professional development
- Infrastructure development (classrooms, libraries, etc.)
- 6. Impact: UBEC has contributed to significant improvements in Nigeria’s basic education sector, including increased enrollment rates and improved infrastructure.
UBEC plays a vital role in shaping Nigeria’s education landscape, working towards ensuring that all children have access to quality basic education.
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