Over 2 million school children benefit from basic education reforms

From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri

Over two million school children across states have benefited from the Federal Government’s reforms of the basic education system in the country.

Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Hajiya Aisha Garba, disclosed this yesterday at the opening of the 28th Quarterly Meeting of the commission, which is being held in Maiduguri, Borno’s capital.

Garba said the ongoing reforms in basic education in Nigeria are aimed at improving children’s access to quality education, digitalising the process and system, improving school infrastructure and the quality of teaching as well as learning.

“We’ve been able to impact over two million school children with the reform,” she disclosed, calling on the 36 States and FCT Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) to pursue the reforms with passion and vigour.

She noted that the country has never lacked great policies, identifying implementation of policies as the major challenge affecting most sectors in the country.

She urged all SUBEBs to be committed to digital collection of data and periodic reviews of the policy implementation in their respective states.

Garba thanked the Borno State Government for hosting the 28th Quarterly Meeting in Maiduguri and lauded the governor’s school infrastructure initiatives.

Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, in his address, announced that data collection and school census will be done digitally as from 2026.

He called for standards in the provision of infrastructure in schools. “I urge you to choose quality instead of quantity in terms of furnishing and education equipment,” he advised.

He emphasised that education is not a social service but a veritable weapon to tackle poverty and grow society.

“Every school built is a weapon against poverty. Every child trained is an antidote to terrorism and banditry,” he declared.