The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) is set to commence implementation of its 10-year universal basic education roadmap, 2026–2035, in the first week of October, 2026. This move aims to overhaul the current approach to basic education development in Nigeria. UBEC Executive Secretary, Dr. Aisha Garba, unveiled the plan at a two-day consultative workshop with chairmen of the 36 State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) and UBEC directors in Abuja.
The new roadmap will replace the practice of implementing isolated infrastructure projects without addressing the broader needs of schools. According to Dr. Garba, the commission has adopted a “whole school approach” to basic education development. This approach requires states to identify and address all critical gaps in a school before their action plans can be approved by UBEC. The goal is to ensure that interventions are based on the comprehensive needs of individual schools rather than the provision of disconnected projects.
To achieve this, UBEC has introduced a digital platform, the Basic Education Action Plan Management System (BEAPMS). This platform is designed to improve planning, transparency, and monitoring of basic education projects nationwide. It will enable communities to participate in monitoring projects implemented under the roadmap. The platform will be made public, allowing parents and community members to track projects, funding, and the quality of interventions delivered in their schools.
The UBEC boss announced a revision of the matching grant formula to enable states to deploy UBEC funding according to their specific education needs. The previous formula had largely focused on new infrastructure, leaving some states unable to access funds because their priority was no longer the construction of new schools but the maintenance and improvement of existing facilities. The new formula allows each state to look at their own needs and allocate funds accordingly.
The revised framework could also support interventions such as enrolment materials and additional teachers where states identify increased enrolment as a priority. According to Dr. Garba, the new system is designed to end the practice of constructing a few classrooms or supplying furniture without providing other essential facilities required for a functional learning environment. This includes addressing gaps in fencing, toilets, and other critical infrastructure.
The commission said the digital platform had been under development for more than a month and that the SUBEB chairmen were now fully onboarded ahead of the commencement of full implementation in October. The Dean of SUBEB Chairmen, Prof. Shehu Adaramaja, noted that the consultation was important for establishing a common direction for the delivery of basic education over the next decade.
The meeting aimed to help stakeholders establish a common direction for the delivery of basic education over the next decade. The exercise will enable stakeholders to review and validate the proposed roadmap while drawing on their technical expertise and experience in implementing basic education programmes across the states. Key aspects of the roadmap include a focus on comprehensive school development and increased community participation in monitoring education projects.
Key points
- Nigeria's UBEC to implement a 10-year roadmap for basic education development.
- The roadmap focuses on a "whole school approach" to address comprehensive needs of individual schools.
- A new digital platform, BEAPMS, will be used to improve planning, transparency, and monitoring of basic education projects.
