The federal government, Monday, flagged off the Universal Basic Education (UBE) school based management committee-school improvement programme (SBMC-SIP) implementation, dissemination of the SBMC-SIP implementation guidelines and Teacher Professional Development (TPD).
Speaking at the event held at UBEC Digital Resource Center, Kado Kuchi, Abuja, Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the initiative will foster community partnership and engagement, “which can effectively address the issue of out of school and also expand access to school age children, while improving the teaching and learning environment.”
He said the activities are being funded using the federal government/UBE intervention fund and will inform further efforts in developing the capacity of teachers nationwide.
Alausa said community partnership is very fundamental to achieving universal and inclusive basic education for all school age children.
He said, “if girl child education is to be advanced, if we are to eradicate or reduce the out of school syndrome, government alone cannot tackle the challenges as it is a synergy of efforts from all stakeholders, especially the community playing a major role, that will pave the way for the achievement of the expected outcomes.”
He said the federal government is committed to supporting UBEC’s 2025-2027 bold commitments that will ensure the construction of 7,200 new UBE facilities, provision of 1,680,000 furniture, extensive renovation of 195,000 classrooms, provision of 22,900 water boreholes and 28,000 toilets and provision of perimeter fencing in 14,000 schools; in order to ensure a safe learning environment particularly in the rural areas.
He said: “These two landmark initiatives; SBMC-led school improvement activities and teacher capacity development in the basic education sub-sector, align with the reform agenda of His Excellency, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, whose administration remains resolute in transforming the education sector as a key driver of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“On resumption of office, the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) identified key sectoral challenges and developed pillars on which the Ministry’s education sector renewal initiative is founded. The pillars include: Increasing enrolment and reducing the number of out-of-school children by improving UBE access opportunities, enhancing TVET to bridge skill gaps and boost youth employment, advancing girl child education with safe learning spaces and scholarships, harnessing data and digitization for better decision making and innovation and strengthening quality assurance to meet global standards
“These strategies are geared towards revamping the sector and ensuring that education in Nigeria aligns with and competes favorably with global standards.
“While the FME intensifies its efforts in mobilizing resources to actualize the above ideals, it also recognizes the importance of improved partnerships and collaborations with all stakeholders in all aspects of education service delivery.
“It therefore gladdens my heart to note the giant strides recorded by UBEC in the implementation of the UBE School Based Management Committee-School Improvement Programme. I am delighted to also note that the initiative will foster community partnership and engagement, which can effectively address the issue of out of school and also expand access to school age children while improving the teaching and learning environment.”
He added: “The Teacher Professional Development programme aligns with the Ministry’s vision of improving learning outcomes through the strengthening of teacher quality in the sector to meet global standards. Recently, and as part of these reform measures, a new curriculum, which promotes competence and skills, was introduced. For effective implementation of the curriculum and introduction in the 2025/2026 academic session, a directive to develop the Teachers Guides for the training and use of teachers in our schools has been given.
“This is in addition to ongoing efforts in the direction of reviewing the curriculum and making the same available to all our learning institutions. These and other measures, I believe, will inform further efforts in developing the capacity of teachers nationwide. The Ministry believes strongly and understands that there is urgent need to prioritize these interventions in order to fast track the introduction of the curriculum in the next school session.
“Community partnership is very fundamental to achieving universal and inclusive basic education for all school age children. If girl child education is to be advanced, if we are to eradicate or reduce the out of school syndrome, government alone cannot tackle the challenges. It is a synergy of efforts from all stakeholders, especially the community playing a major role, that will pave the way for the achievement of the expected outcomes.
“I therefore wish to commend UBEC its relentless efforts in the implementation of the SBMC-SIP initiative. Let me use this opportunity to call on states and local government areas to build on the interventions provided by the Federal Government as basic education implementation is their constitutional responsibility. It therefore behoves on the two levels of government to maximize Federal Government’s support by ensuring effective monitoring and also injecting further indigenous fund into the SBMC-SIP programme for greater impact. I also urge the beneficiary schools to remain guided by the reviewed School Improvement Programme (SIP) Implementation Guidelines that will be presented at this event.
“I wish to reiterate FME’s resolve to revamp our education system by compliance with Mr. President’s directive regarding the implementation of the Ministerial Education Sector Renewal Initiative. Additionally, at the FME we are committed to supporting UBEC’s 2025-2027 Bold Commitments that will ensure the construction of 7,200 new UBE facilities, provision of 1,680,000 furniture, extensive renovation of 195,000 classrooms, provision of 22,900 water boreholes and 28,000 toilets and provision of perimeter fencing in 14,000 schools to ensure a safe learning environment particularly in the rural areas.
“While assuring that we will not relent in this direction, I wish to admit that the collaboration of all stakeholders is required as we work towards achieving the presidential mandate for the education sector.
“I am delighted to officially flag-off the commencement of the UBE School Based Management Committee-School Improvement Programme (SBMC-SIP), the Teacher Professional Development (TPD) programme as well as make this public presentation of the reviewed 2025 SBMC-SIP Implementation Guidelines, which I have the honour to recommend for use by beneficiary communities.
“It is my sincere hope that these initiatives will lead to the improvement of learning outcomes in basic education and the overall development of Nigeria’s education sector.”
Speaking earlier, Executive Secretary of UBEC, Aisha Garba, said that, in recent years, Nigeria’s basic education has made progress has school enrollment has increased by 7% within two years to three years.
She, however, lamented that access to education has not expanded to all, saying about 13 million children are still out of school, especially those from rural and low-income communities.
She said: “Imagine a child in a community eager to learn, full of promise, yet held back by lack of infrastructure, q school nearby, qualified teachers, learning materials and conducive learning environment. Today, we mark a defining milestone in our shared vision to deliver equitable, quality-based education for every Nigerian child and to rewrite that story. We gather to reaffirm our commitment to every Nigerian child.
“We are unleashing the promise of a nation, the promise that every Nigerian child, no matter their circumstances or location, deserves a solid start to life, through quality-based education. In recent years, our basic education has made progress. Enrollment has increased by 7% within two years to three years. However, access to education has not expanded to all. About 13 million children are still out of school. Especially those from rural and low-income communities.
“And only 9% of children aged 7 to 14 in rural areas demonstrate any appropriate literary and numeracy skills. These numbers are not specific. They are the call for action. They are targeted in investment, partnerships, to expand access to all parts in Nigeria.
“Aligning with this mission, UBEC has unveiled a bold strategy to ensure inclusive, equitable and high-quality basic education that will enable every child to learn, grow and thrive. UBEC’s strategy includes expanding access to all parts of the country, particularly rural areas, where we have the lowest enrollment in basic education, enhancing quality of education nationwide, masterminding education financing across federal, state and local governments, strengthening systems through digitalization. And this is only the beginning.”