The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the growing number of out-of-school children in Nigeria. During the opening of a two-day management retreat on Thursday, UBEC’s Executive Secretary, Aisha Garba, highlighted the ongoing challenges, particularly the impact on children from impoverished rural communities. She pointed out that poverty and limited resources in these areas are major contributors to the education gap, and she called for stronger advocacy efforts to address these issues.
Garba also noted the stagnation in enrollment rates for children aged three to five from 2018 to 2022, which reflects a concerning trend in early childhood education. The teacher-student ratio has also worsened, creating further strain on the education system and potentially affecting the quality of education being delivered.
She emphasized that the Ministry of Education is committed to retooling UBEC to better achieve Universal Basic Education (UBE) for all children, regardless of their socioeconomic background or location. Garba further elaborated on the significant strides made by UBEC in collaboration with State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEB). These efforts include the construction of thousands of schools and the renovation of hundreds of classrooms across Nigeria.
The retreat also focused on the financial challenges faced by some states, particularly in accessing funds for educational development. Garba acknowledged the persistent delays in the disbursement of matching grants, which have hindered infrastructure and teaching improvements in certain regions. Nonetheless, UBEC remains dedicated to improving student-classroom ratios and bolstering educational infrastructure to ensure that every child in Nigeria has access to quality basic education.
