UBEC unveils digital tracking platform for school projects, funds

The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has introduced a digital tracking platform to allow parents and communities to monitor basic education projects and funds handled by states. This move is part of the commission's preparation for the implementation of its 10-year Universal Basic Education Roadmap, which starts in October.

Dr Aisha Garba, the UBEC Executive Secretary, revealed this during a two-day workshop with state Universal Basic Education Board chairmen and commission directors in Abuja. The Basic Education Action Plan Management System aims to enhance transparency, planning, and monitoring of interventions under the new roadmap. This platform will provide information on funds accessed by states and projects being implemented, enabling communities to track school interventions and hold authorities accountable.

Garba emphasized that the platform would foster community participation in monitoring and ensure accountability for the funds spent on UBEC projects. The development aligns with UBEC's shift towards a "whole school approach," requiring states to identify the comprehensive needs of individual schools before approving action plans.

The approach aims to address multiple essential requirements in schools simultaneously, ensuring a more holistic development. The commission's move comes amid persistent challenges in Nigeria's basic education sector, including access, infrastructure, and learning outcomes. UNICEF estimates that 10.5 million children aged five to 14 are out of school in Nigeria, with ongoing assessments revealing significant gaps in foundational literacy and numeracy.