Inspectors of the Council for Regulation of Engineers in Nigeria, COREN have commenced monitoring of UBEC/SUBEBS Matching Grants intervention projects in the 36 states and FCT.
This is to ensure that there is value for money and infrastructures built are safe and could last for long time as well as motivate pupils to learn better.
The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission UBEC, Dr Hamid Bobboyi stated this in Abuja while declaring open a one-day workshop for the Council for Regulation of Engineers in Nigeria COREN on monitoring of UBEC/SUBEBS Matching Grant intervention projects in 36 states and the FCT.
Dr Bobboyi explained that the role of COREN was to make sure that all buildings in public basic schools has its certification and well built enough to international standard.
Dr Bobboyi said the Commission is worried by the poor learning outcomes in basic education despite huge intervention by the Federal Government.
He, however, blamed this on a number of factors including, recruitment of unqualified teachers by some state governments, lack of regular professional training programmes for teachers, low remuneration among others.
He said there was need to invest more on teachers that would teach children at the basic level of education, especially public schools across the country.
“There is no justification for all the investment, if the child in the classroom is not learning,” he said.
The Registrar of COREN, Professor Adisa Bello, said the Council would monitor construction work, renovation, furniture, equipment, works and water supply projects and report appropriately.
Professor Bello warned the inspectors against deviating from the norm, stressing that anyone found wanting during the exercise would be dealt with accordingly.
He commended the management of UBEC for opening itself to scrutiny, saying many government agencies would not be prepared to subject themselves to such evaluation.
Editing by Daniel Adejo.