The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in Nigeria is set to commence the full implementation of its 10-Year Universal Basic Education (UBE) Roadmap, 2026–2035, in the first week of October. This was announced by the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Aisha Garba, at a two-day consultative workshop with state education officials in Abuja. The roadmap aims to improve basic education across the country through a comprehensive approach.
Dr Garba unveiled the Basic Education Action Plan Management System (BEAPMS), a digital platform designed to enhance planning, transparency, and monitoring of basic education projects nationwide. This new system is part of broader reforms to shift from isolated projects to a “whole school approach”. Under this approach, states will be required to identify and address the comprehensive needs of a school before their action plans can be approved by UBEC.
The “whole school approach” means that interventions will no longer be limited to specific areas such as building two blocks of classrooms. Instead, it will involve assessing all the gaps in a school, including the need for fencing, toilets, furniture, and computers. According to Dr Garba, this approach will ensure that all necessary improvements are made within a school environment, providing a more holistic solution to educational infrastructure challenges.
To facilitate more flexible and effective use of funds, UBEC has revised its matching grant formula. The previous formula primarily focused on new infrastructure, which made it difficult for some states to access funds for maintaining and improving existing schools. The new formula allows states to address their specific education needs, whether it be furniture, renovation, fencing, computers, or other facilities.
The revised matching grant formula also supports enrolment materials and additional teachers where states identify increased enrolment as a priority. This change is expected to provide states with more autonomy in allocating funds according to their unique needs. Dr Garba emphasized that there is no one-size-fits-all approach and that the new formula accommodates the diverse requirements of different states.
The Basic Education Action Plan Management System (BEAPMS) is designed to increase community involvement in monitoring projects implemented in their schools. The platform will enable communities to track projects and hold government accountable for funds accessed and projects implemented. Information on the amount of money accessed by a state and the projects being implemented will be made public on the UBEC website.
The introduction of BEAPMS and the revised matching grant formula are part of UBEC's efforts to enhance transparency and effectiveness in basic education. The digital platform has been under development for over a month, and state education officials have been fully onboarded ahead of the commencement of the full implementation of the 10-Year UBE Roadmap.
Key points
- UBEC to implement 10-year basic education roadmap in October.
- Introduction of Basic Education Action Plan Management System for transparency.
- Revised matching grant formula to accommodate diverse state needs.
