Nigeria Targets Full Operation of Smart Schools by 2026

The Federal Government of Nigeria has set a target for December 2026 for the full operation of smart schools and bilingual schools across the country. Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, reaffirmed the government's commitment to enhancing access to quality basic education during the inauguration of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) monitoring committee.

He expressed concern over several completed educational projects that remain unused due to various reasons, despite significant public investment. The minister criticized the situation where completed schools are not accessible to intended beneficiaries, highlighting that this represents lost opportunities for thousands of Nigerian children.

He also addressed the issue of the separation between junior secondary schools (JSS) and senior secondary schools (SSS), noting that approximately 20 million students drop out at the primary and JSS levels. The government plans to phase out this separation to create more opportunities for students.

Dr. Aisha Garba, the UBEC Executive Secretary, reported that 37 smart schools have been established nationwide, with 24 already operational.