Abuja: The Federal Government has launched the Universal Basic Education (UBE) School Based Management Committee-School Improvement Programme (SBMC-SIP) to enhance teaching capacity under the Teacher Professional Development (TPD) initiative. Speaking at an event in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, emphasized that the initiative is designed to foster community partnership and engagement.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the programme aims to address the issue of out-of-school children and expand access to education for school-age children while improving the teaching and learning environment. Dr. Alausa mentioned that the activities would be funded through the Federal Government/UBE intervention fund, guiding efforts to enhance teacher capacity nationwide. He highlighted the importance of collaboration in advancing girl-child education and tackling the out-of-school syndrome. Dr. Alausa stressed that community synergy is essential for achieving the desired educational outcomes.
The minister also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting the Universal Basic Education Commission’s (UBEC) 2025-2027 initiatives. These initiatives include the construction of 7,200 new UBE facilities, provision of 1,680,000 furniture pieces, extensive renovation of 195,000 classrooms, and installation of 22,900 water boreholes and 28,000 toilets across schools, aimed at creating a safe learning environment, especially in rural areas.
Dr. Alausa outlined the pillars of the ministry’s education sector renewal initiative, which focuses on increasing enrollment, enhancing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to address skill gaps, advancing girl-child education, harnessing data and digitization, and strengthening quality assurance to meet global standards. He explained that the teacher professional development programme aligns with the ministry’s goal of improving learning outcomes by strengthening teacher quality.
The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Aisha Garba, also addressed the progress made in Nigeria’s basic education sector, noting a seven percent increase in school enrollment over the past two to three years. However, she lamented that about 13 million children remain out of school, particularly in rural and low-income communities. Garba reaffirmed the government’s commitment to delivering equitable, quality education for every Nigerian child, emphasizing the importance of infrastructure, qualified teachers, learning materials, and a conducive learning environment in fulfilling this mission.