$552m HOPE-EDU programme targets 29 million children, 500,000 teachers — UBEC

The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) says the $552.18 million World Bank-supported HOPE-EDU programme targets 29 million children, 500,000 teachers and 65,000 public schools nationwide.

Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Aisha Garba, disclosed this at a two-day meeting with chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) on implementation readiness for the programme, on Wednesday, in Abuja, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)  reported.

Garba explained that the programme would also cover 10,000 non-formal learning centres and support the construction of 13,000 classrooms to improve access to quality basic education.

She said the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE-EDU) programme became effective on February 27 and had entered its implementation phase.

She stated that the programme adopts a results-based financing approach, with funds released to states based on their achievement of agreed targets.

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“HOPE-EDU is designed to improve learning outcomes, increase equitable access to basic education and strengthen governance and accountability in the education sector,” she said.

Garba said the programme had three major components: improving the quality of basic education, expanding access and strengthening education systems.

She noted that $262.239 million was allocated to improving education quality, $123.9 million to expanding access and $133.611 million to strengthening key systems.

She added that the first component was open to 33 states, with participation potentially extending to all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), subject to meeting the requirements.

According to her, the second component targets 15 states with the highest populations of out-of-school children that also meet other eligibility conditions, while the third is open to all states and the FCT.

The UBEC executive secretary said the programme would improve teaching, provide learning materials and enhance pupils’ literacy and numeracy skills through the Structured Pedagogy Programme (SPP).

She stressed that achieving the targets would require strong commitment from state governments, particularly in providing adequate funding and policy support.

Garba urged SUBEB chairmen to brief their governors and other relevant officials on the programme to secure the necessary support for effective implementation.

She particularly called on states to make adequate budgetary provisions for the programme in their 2027 budgets.

“A lot of the deliverables for Year One will require provisions in the states’ 2027 budgets,” she said.

Garba said the initiative, introduced under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, was designed to ensure that every child, particularly those in rural and marginalised communities and those out of school, had equitable access to quality education.

She urged SUBEB chairmen to take ownership of the programme and ensure that their states met the agreed targets to access the funds.

Earlier, the Programme Manager of HOPE-EDU, Mr Olumayowa Aleshin, presented an overview of the programme, including its funding structure, implementation targets and key milestones.

The programme is expected to strengthen teaching and learning, expand educational opportunities for underserved communities and improve the systems responsible for delivering basic education nationwide.