The Basic Education Department (BED) is a core department within the Ministry of Education, dedicated to overseeing and promoting quality education for children at the foundation levels. Located at Ochudo Centenary City, Abakaliki, the Department ensures the proper establishment, standardization, and monitoring of schools within the basic education sector.

Core Responsibilities

The Department executes a comprehensive set of duties focused on institutional oversight, academic quality, and inter-governmental coordination:

Oversight and School Accreditation

The Department's staff conducts crucial activities to ensure that all basic education institutions meet the required standards:

• Establishment and Inspection: Carrying out establishment and accreditation/upgrading approval inspections for all public and private Nursery, Primary, and Junior Secondary Schools.

• Report Processing: Processing and submitting all inspection reports for final approval by the Honorable Commissioner for Education.

Examination Management and Quality Control

BED plays a vital role in coordinating external examinations and ensuring only accredited schools participate:

• Examination Screening: Conducting the annual screening of Public and Private Primary and Junior Secondary School lists for external examinations, including:

  • Common Entrance Examination

  • First School Leaving Certificate Examination (FSLC)

  • Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE)

• This screening ensures that only accredited schools are granted examination centers and verifies the regular payment of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

• Monitoring: Monitoring and supervising the conduct of all state examinations (Common Entrance, FSLC, and BECE).

Coordination and Representation

The Department serves as a key link between the Ministry and various educational bodies:

• School Coordination: Coordinating the activities of all public and private primary and junior secondary schools in the state.

• Inter-Agency Liaison: Representing the Ministry in the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

• National Participation: Participating in meetings of the National Committee on Education (NCE) and the Joint Consultative Committee on Education.

• General Duties: Executing any other duties that may be assigned to the Department.

Departmental Staff