FG releases N138 billion to boost basic learning, audits schools

The Federal Government has released over N138b billion to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in the last three years as matching grant to strengthen basic education system in the country.

Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu who disclosed this at the 2018 National Personnel Audit of All Basic Education Institutions in Nigeria reiterated government’s continued support to education sector.

Adamu said the funds were accessed by states that also paid their counterpart contributions.

He said: “In line with this commitment, the present administration, from 2015 to date had released the sum of N138b as a matching grant. These funds are being accessed by states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) after paying their counterpart contributions.”

He added that the National Personnel Audit (NPA) would go a long way in establishing a strong foundation for the emergence of a sound Management Information System (MIS) within the basic education subsector.

“It will also strengthen the current National Educational Management Information System (NEMIS) which serves as a key pillar of the nation’s educational planning architecture,” it said.

The minister also called on all the stakeholders to ensure the success of the exercise.

“I therefore use this opportunity to call on all stakeholders in the education sector, including the private sector, civil society organisations, communities and parents to cooperate with the National Planning Committee of the 2018 NPA to ensure the success of this exercise. This is because government cannot do it alone.

“The education of our children is the responsibility of all. Let us all work together and gather the needed data to plan for the best education that the Nigerian Child deserves,” he added.

Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi said the major objectives of the 2018 Personnel Audit include the creation of reliable data on pupils enrollment, determining the number and quality of teaching and non-teaching staff in the subsector as well as the state of infrastructural facilities in our school system.

He explained that the exercise is being undertaken in two phases, adding that the first phase began on Monday April 30, which covers Southeast, Southsouth and Southwest while the second phase starts from June 3 to 26 to cover the North central, Northeast and Northwest.

“It is important to add that data collected from the exercise will provide the basis for the determination of some key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in the basic education sub-sector and to aid the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Furthermore, the data will be fed into the national databank for global reporting in line with Nigeria Education Management Information System (NEMIS) policy,” he added.