UBEC decries rising incidences of social vices among pupils

The Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Hamid Bobboyi, has decried the rising case of cultism and other social vices in the nation’s basic education system.

This he attributed to the ugly development of the degeneration of moral values that had overturned Nigerian society.

Bobboyi in a statement said this at a two-day stakeholders’ meeting on value regeneration and reorientation at the basic education level in the country.

He lamented that negative behaviour such as stealing, drunkenness, financial crime known as yahoo-yahoo, truancy, violence, and many others was now common in schools as against what was aplicable before.

He said cultism, which was almost similar to ancient Egyptian cult practices several centuries ago, is now springing up to the detriment of the system.

Speaking further, the UBEC boss said the event was organised to address the rising moral decadence among young students in secondary schools.

He said, “Over the years, there has been great concern over the degeneration of morals and overturn of values in our society. This is demonstrated in the many vices and negative behavior such as stealing, drunkenness, a financial crime known as yahoo-yahoo, truancy, violence, and many others.

“The Universal Basic Education Commission as an agency of Government has the onus to re-order the situation as it has as one of its objectives.

“It is important to note that the basic education level is where learners are given the opportunity to equip themselves with moral values, skills, and competencies that can assist them in effecting personal and community positive change. This is why the Commission has taken it upon itself to organise the stakeholder’s workshop with the school as its target.”

On his part, Director, Teacher Development, UBEC, Aleshin Olumayowa, said the meeting was a strategy deployed by the Commission to gather information, solicit advice, and find a way forward to address the decline of moral and value upturn at the basic education level.

Also speaking at the event that attracted representatives of heads of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, among other agencies, the keynote speaker, Prof. Soji Oni, harped on a robust war against social vices through moral regeneration.

“Moral regeneration should be taught not only in schools but at home and also at worship centres,” he said.