As President Bola Tinubu’s administration marks its first year in office, stakeholders in Nigeria’s education sector have offered a mixed assessment of the government’s efforts to revamp the crisis-ridden system through an ambitious reform agenda. While lauding several initiatives, many are calling for swifter and more impactful implementation to translate policies into tangible changes.
The Renewed Hope Agenda’s roadmap envisions overarching reforms aimed at reducing out-of-school children, enhancing access and equity, boosting skills development, and restoring global competitiveness. However, persistent issues like frequent strikes, infrastructural deficits, and funding gaps have undermined progress, leaving experts to score the administration a modest 5 out of 10 on the education front.
“When Tinubu assumed office, he laid strong emphasis on education, promising four-year degree programs. But his inaugural speech made no mention of it, and economic shocks have severely impacted the sector,” rued Elvis Boniface, an education expert. He cited delayed reconstitution of university boards amid standoffs with unions as examples of uneven execution.
That said, the administration has rolled out some noteworthy efforts. A key achievement is the establishment of a centralized education data repository to bridge information gaps hindering effective planning. Complementing this, a nationwide census of schools, teachers, and students aims to map infrastructural and human resource shortfalls.
Initiatives targeting out-of-school children have seen over 2 million Almajiri pupils integrated into basic education along with vocational programs. Over 300 renovated learning centers and new classroom facilities have expanded access. Plus, a revamped scholarship scheme has facilitated international study opportunities for thousands.
However, the big-ticket reform garnering scrutiny is the new Student Loan Scheme, conceived as a solution to financially-driven dropouts. While lauded for democratizing higher education funding, concerns linger over potential risks like defaults, abuse, and long-term viability without robust safeguards.
“The scheme’s roll-out merits close monitoring to prevent politicization or nepotism in disbursements,” cautions social commentator Japheth Odesanya, underscoring the need for transparency and accountability mechanisms.
Another sticking point is inadequate budgetary allocation, with education’s 5.98% share of the 2024 budget falling woefully short of the 15-20% UNESCO benchmark for developing nations. Experts argue thisundermines the fiscal legroom for reforms to be actualized at scale and pace.
Moreover, while pockets of progress are visible through targeted interventions, an overarching challenge is the fragmented nature of reforms. A cohesive, system-wide transformation remains elusive amidst the complexities of federalism and diverse state-level priorities and capabilities.
As Tinubu’s second year commences, stakeholders are urging the administration to consolidate the initial building blocks into a unified, outcome-driven national education renaissance. Accelerating implementation, boosting funding, fostering collaborative governance between states and unions, and enforcing accountability should be prioritized.
For a nation grappling with a youth bulge and economic headwinds, revitalizing the education sector is pivotal to unlocking productivity and equipping the future workforce. While Tinubu’s inaugural steps evince laudable intent, rapidly converting that vision into substantive realities will be the true litmus test of lasting impact in the years ahead.
