UBEC Report: 73% of Public JSS Students Lack Access to School Furniture

The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) revealed that 73% of public Junior Secondary School (JSS) pupils lack adequate furniture. This statistic was shared by UBEC Executive Secretary, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, during a one-day meeting with the organized private sector on the implementation of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) program in Nigeria, held in Lagos.

The report also indicated that 45% of private JSSs face the same issue.

Dr. Bobboyi highlighted a significant deficit in physical infrastructure within schools. He stated, “Teaching takes place in a poor learning environment. Forty percent of classrooms are in poor condition within the basic education subsector, affecting all geo-political zones.”

As of 2022, an additional 907,769 classrooms were required in primary schools, and 200,085 in junior secondary schools. The ratios of learners to classrooms and teachers exceed the standards specified by the National Policy on Education.

The percentage of learners without furniture is high in both public and private schools, with public schools being more affected. Public schools also face severe shortages in sanitation facilities, especially in Early Childhood Care, Development and Education (ECCDE) and primary schools.

Bobboyi also pointed out the lack of qualified teachers in public primary schools. Of the 694,078 teachers needed, only 499,202 are available, leaving a gap of 194,876.

UBEC calls for greater collaboration between the Commission and key stakeholders to address these issues. Bobboyi urged the private sector to invest more in basic education to complement federal efforts. He suggested that private entities take responsibility in critical areas, such as addressing the out-of-school children phenomenon and supporting infrastructure development, particularly in underserved communities.

Senior Technical Advisor, Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Dr. Bala Yunusa, emphasized the importance of public-private collaboration. He noted that poverty is a significant barrier to education, particularly during planting and harvesting seasons when children are often kept out of school. Dr. Yunusa stressed the need for safe and secure learning environments and called for the private sector’s expertise to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in education.

He also mentioned that primary and secondary schools fall under state and local government jurisdictions, noting the federal government’s provision of 9,000 classroom blocks across various federal constituencies.