STAKEHOLDERS DELIBERATE ON TEN-YEAR UBE ROADMAP

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s basic education sector have commenced deliberations on a new 10-year Universal Basic Education (UBE) Roadmap for 2026–2035, aimed at providing a coordinated framework for improving access, quality, planning, funding and learning outcomes across the country.

The consultation was convened by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in Abuja, bringing together chairmen of the 36 State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs), directors and other key education officials. The new roadmap is expected to replace the existing 2021–2030 framework and align basic education planning with current reforms and emerging national priorities.

UBEC Executive Secretary, Dr Aisha Garba, said the new framework would shift emphasis from simply expanding access to ensuring that children actually acquire meaningful learning. She described the approach as a transition from “education for all” to “learning for all,” with greater attention to measurable results and the specific needs of individual schools and communities.  

A major component of the reform is the Basic Education Action Plan Management System (BEAPMS), a digital platform designed to modernise the management of UBEC intervention funds. Under the system, states will be able to develop, submit and track their education action plans through an integrated digital process, replacing much of the previous manual procedure.  

The digital system is also expected to strengthen transparency and accountability. Information on funds accessed by states and projects being implemented will be made available for monitoring, allowing communities and other stakeholders to follow the progress of interventions in schools.  

The new approach will also allow states to prioritise interventions according to their actual needs. Rather than concentrating largely on new construction, states may identify priorities such as school renovation, furniture, fencing, computers, learning materials and additional teachers, depending on local requirements.  

Garba urged SUBEB officials to take ownership of the reforms through accurate and timely data submission, disciplined planning and sustained cooperation with UBEC. She noted that successful implementation would require clear responsibilities, effective coordination, capacity building and continuous monitoring.

The consultation is therefore expected to help stakeholders agree on implementation timelines, reporting requirements, system needs and mechanisms for monitoring results. UBEC has indicated that implementation of the new 2026–2035 roadmap is scheduled to commence in the first week of October 2026.  

The initiative represents an effort to establish a long-term, evidence-based framework for basic education planning while improving how public resources are allocated, monitored and translated into better school environments and learning outcomes nationwide.