Nigeria’s Governors and UBEC Join Forces to Reform Foundational Education

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) have partnered to address the deepening education crisis in the country. They’ve called for urgent reforms to improve foundational learning and reduce the number of out-of-school children.

This move aims to strengthen motivation for federal and state policymakers to drive evidence-based reforms.

Key Challenges:

• Out-of-School Children: Nigeria grapples with a persistent out-of-school children crisis, with approximately 17 million children affected.
• Learning Gaps: Many primary school pupils struggle with foundational literacy and numeracy skills, hindering their academic advancement.
• Underfunding: Basic education and national governance in Nigeria are underfunded, exacerbating the sector’s challenges.

Proposed Solutions:

• Multi-Sectoral Approach: UBEC plans to work collaboratively with ministries, departments, agencies, commissions, and development partners to address demand- and supply-side barriers to basic education.
• Effective Schools Programme: UBEC has commenced the implementation of the Effective Schools Programme to enhance basic education delivery.
• Strategic Blueprint: UBEC has unveiled a 2025-2027 Strategic Blueprint to transform basic education, emphasizing context-specific work plans and national education goals.

Funding and Support:

• World Bank and GPE Support: The Federal Government has secured $552.18 million from the World Bank and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) to support the HOPE for Quality Basic Education for All (HOPE-EDU) program.
• Budget Allocation: The 2025 budget allocates ₦3.5 trillion to the education sector, with ₦826.90 billion earmarked for infrastructural development.