Nigeria’s basic education sector has recorded notable progress over the past year, with improvements in access, infrastructure, and teacher capacity, according to new data presented by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa.
The report, unveiled at the 2026 Basic Education Bootcamp in Jos under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), outlined ongoing reforms aimed at repositioning the sector for a knowledge-driven future.
Dr. Alausa said the government remains focused on reducing the number of out-of-school children, addressing learning poverty, and strengthening human capital development, even as significant challenges persist. He noted that about 45 million children aged 5–14 still cannot read age-appropriate texts, while an estimated 15 million remain out of school.
Despite these figures, he said recent interventions are beginning to yield results. Between January 2025 and January 2026, the Federal Government released N106 billion in Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) matching grants—one of the largest disbursements in recent years.
Other achievements include the training of 978,000 teachers, renovation of 10,000 classrooms, distribution of 7.8 million textbooks, and an investment of N22 billion in teacher professional development. In addition, School-Based Management Committees received N2.035 billion to support community-driven projects.
“These investments are already improving learning environments and teacher capacity nationwide,” the minister said.
The three-day bootcamp, themed “Enhancing Access to Inclusive Education and Bridging the Gap for Out-of-School Children in Nigeria,” brought together policymakers, development partners, and key stakeholders to accelerate reforms and strengthen implementation at the state level.
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Muftwang, described the out-of-school children crisis as “millions of dreams deferred,” warning that failure to act could worsen insecurity and poverty. He highlighted ongoing investments in the state, including the construction of 397 new classrooms, renovation of 557 others, and provision of boreholes and school furniture.
The event also saw the launch of key policy documents, including the National Policy on Inclusive Education, the National Policy on Almajiri Education, and guidelines for the re-entry of married and pregnant adolescent girls into the school system.
Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sai’di Ahmad, acknowledged that the out-of-school population remains “significant and unacceptable,” but said efforts are underway to expand alternative learning pathways, strengthen technical and vocational education, and promote digital learning through initiatives such as LUMINA 2030.
Permanent Secretary Abel Enitan added that reforms under NESRI include nationwide mapping of out-of-school children, curriculum updates, expansion of digital learning, and the rollout of the Learner Identification Number system to improve data tracking.
Participants at the bootcamp are expected to produce a consolidated action plan focusing on inclusive education, teacher quality, data systems, and community engagement.
Stakeholders at the event agreed that Nigeria’s long-term development depends on fixing foundational learning and ensuring that every child has access to quality education.