Juliet Ezeh
The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has disbursed over ₦5 billion to 518 communities across the country under its School-Based Management Committee–School Improvement Programme (SBMC-SIP), in a renewed push to improve learning conditions and reduce the growing number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.
The intervention, which forms part of the Federal Government’s broader education reform agenda, is targeted at strengthening school infrastructure, improving community participation in education governance, and ensuring that children not only enroll in school but remain through completion.
Speaking at the national flag-off of the 2025 SBMC-SIP implementation in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Aisha Garba, described the programme as a strategic shift towards community-driven education development.
She noted that the ₦5.18 billion earmarked for the 2025 cycle will directly support 518 communities nationwide, with each state and the Federal Capital Territory benefiting from interventions across 14 schools.
Represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical), Mr. Rasaq Olajuwon Akinyemi, Garba said the programme prioritises underserved and vulnerable communities where school infrastructure gaps remain a major barrier to access and retention.
According to her, funds will be channelled into rehabilitating dilapidated classrooms, providing furniture for pupils and teachers, and improving water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities in schools.
She explained that the initiative goes beyond infrastructure upgrades, describing it as a “renewed national commitment” to strengthening school governance structures through community participation and accountability.
“This represents a renewed national commitment to strengthening community participation in school governance, improving learning environments across the Federation, and ensuring that every Nigerian child not only enrolls in school but remains in school to successfully complete basic education,” she said.
Garba further revealed that the SBMC-SIP has already recorded significant progress in previous cycles, with over 1,112 schools supported and more than ₦1.5 billion disbursed to communities nationwide.
She added that a total of 13,670 micro-projects have been initiated under the programme, many of which are expected to significantly improve school access and attract over 400,000 children back into classrooms.
As part of the expanded intervention strategy, UBEC also announced the release of ₦434.5 million as the final tranche of funding for the 2023 and 2024 SBMC-SIP cycles. The funds will support the completion of 11,484 ongoing projects across the country, ensuring that earlier commitments are fully delivered rather than abandoned midway.
Garba stressed that implementation discipline remains central to the programme’s success, warning that transparency, accountability, and timely execution will determine the impact of the intervention at grassroots level.
“As we complete one cycle and begin another, we must ensure that implementation is guided by transparency, accountability, and timeliness,” she said, adding that UBEC will continue to work closely with State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) and community stakeholders to ensure effective delivery.
In a major policy expansion, UBEC also launched the Learner Retention Support Programme, a ₦5 billion initiative designed to address the deeper socio-economic causes of school dropouts.
The programme will initially target one million pupils across eight states, focusing on children most at risk of dropping out due to poverty, insecurity, and other social challenges.
Garba explained that while access to education has improved in many parts of the country, retention remains a critical challenge that undermines long-term learning outcomes.
“Access to education is important, but retention is what ensures that its promise is fulfilled. We must address the realities that force children out of school,” she said.
The intervention has been widely described as a shift from infrastructure-focused education policy to a more holistic approach that addresses both physical and social barriers to learning.
In his remarks, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening basic education delivery as a foundation for national development.
Represented by the Director of Basic Education, Dr. Folake Olatunji-David, the minister said the SBMC-SIP aligns with national and global education priorities, including the Universal Basic Education Act and Sustainable Development Goal 4, which focuses on inclusive and equitable quality education.
He noted that decentralisation remains key to improving outcomes, as community-led school management structures allow for better monitoring and ownership of education projects.
“These initiatives reaffirm government’s commitment to ensuring that every school-age child is enrolled, retained, and able to complete basic education,” he said.
The minister also urged State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs), local government authorities, and community leaders to ensure transparency in fund utilisation and strict monitoring of project execution.
Education stakeholders at the event welcomed the intervention, describing it as a timely response to Nigeria’s persistent education challenges, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
However, they also emphasised the need for stronger oversight mechanisms to ensure that funds translate into tangible improvements in classrooms and learning outcomes.
With Nigeria still grappling with one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children globally, the latest intervention signals a renewed effort to move beyond policy statements to measurable impact.
For UBEC, the focus now shifts to implementation, accountability, and ensuring that the ₦5 billion investment delivers lasting change in classrooms across the country.
As the 2025 cycle begins, attention will be on how effectively states and communities deploy the funds to improve school conditions and whether the initiative can significantly reduce dropout rates in the coming years.