The Federal Government has inaugurated a Ministerial Implementation and Monitoring Committee to drive the full operationalisation of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Smart Schools, Bilingual Schools and Alternative Schools across the country.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, who inaugurated the committee in Abuja, said its mandate is to turn completed school infrastructure into functional learning centres where children receive quality education.
He noted that while UBEC had invested significant public resources in the three school models, many projects remain incomplete, and several finished schools have yet to be handed over to state governments or opened for academic activities.
“Every day a completed school remains locked represents lost opportunities for thousands of Nigerian children. Every abandoned project represents resources not yielding their intended educational value,” Alausa said.
He explained that Smart Schools were set up to promote technology-driven learning, Bilingual Schools to foster linguistic inclusion and national integration, and Alternative Schools to provide education for vulnerable children, girls, out-of-school children and other underserved groups.
He charged the committee to ensure outstanding construction works are completed, and that furniture, equipment, electricity, water supply and internet connectivity are provided in affected schools.
The minister also directed members to work closely with state governments and State Universal Basic Education Boards to facilitate teacher deployment, complete handover processes and ensure student enrolment.
“The success of this committee will not be measured by the number of meetings held or inspection reports produced. It will be measured by one question: How many schools have become operational and are educating Nigerian children?” he said.
According to him, the committee’s mandate covers the entire project cycle, from construction and handover to staffing, enrolment and measurable learning outcomes. He said the Federal Ministry of Education and UBEC would provide all necessary support to deliver on the assignment.
Alausa assured Nigerians that no educational infrastructure funded with public resources would remain abandoned, idle or underutilised under President Bola Tinubu, describing the move as part of efforts to strengthen accountability under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Aisha Garba, said the three school models represent some of the Federal Government’s most significant investments in basic education aimed at expanding access, promoting digital learning and improving opportunities for vulnerable and out-of-school children.
Garba disclosed that 37 Smart Schools have been established nationwide, with 24 already operational, while the remaining schools are at various stages of completion, furnishing and readiness for commissioning.
She added that under the UBEC-Islamic Development Bank Bilingual Education Programme, 30 schools have been established across nine states. Three boarding schools have been completed and commissioned, while four others have reached substantial completion and are being prepared for commissioning.
She said significant progress has also been recorded in curriculum development, teacher training, textbook production and the procurement of ICT and Technical and Vocational Education and Training equipment, alongside ongoing collaboration with states on staffing and sustainability.
Garba added that the Alternative Schools Programme is expanding access to education for out-of-school children through flexible and inclusive learning models.
