The Federal Government has unveiled the Basic Education Transformation Agenda (BETA), a wide-ranging reform programme aimed at improving school enrollment, strengthening technical training, and modernising Nigeria’s education sector.
Speaking at the launch in Abuja, Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said BETA introduces Conditional Cash Transfers to mothers to encourage consistent school attendance and reduce dropout rates. The scheme will also feature a Back2School Drive, in collaboration with the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education, under which the government will cover the full cost of enrollment during official handovers.
According to the minister, the reforms target chronic challenges, including the high number of out-of-school children, poor infrastructure, outdated curricula, and low teacher capacity.
Free Tuition and Stipends for Technical Colleges
From the 2025/2026 academic session, students in federal and state technical colleges will enjoy free tuition, feeding, boarding, uniforms, and protective gear, as well as a ₦22,500 monthly stipend.
“The training model will be 80 per cent practical and 20 percent theoretical, with certified trainers and strong industry linkages through internships,” Alausa said. He added that President Bola Tinubu’s administration had approved ₦120 billion to advance Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
Teacher Training and Curriculum Reform
Teacher retraining is central to the programme. Alausa disclosed that five million youths will be trained within four years, with 270 technical teachers already equipped with digital and trade-specific skills in Ibadan, and 6,000 senior secondary school teachers undergoing training in artificial intelligence.
He also announced curriculum updates to reflect 21st-century demands, including critical thinking, digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and civic education, now mainstreamed from basic to post-basic levels.
STEMM Agenda and Grants
To align higher education with manpower needs in health, energy, and technology, the government introduced the STEMM Nigeria Agenda, covering Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical Sciences.
Under this agenda, a STEMM Up Grant of up to ₦50 million will be available to support undergraduate-led innovations across Nigerian universities.
Scholarships and Loan Fund
Scholarship grants have been reviewed upward by 50 percent: PhD students will now receive ₦750,000, Master’s students ₦600,000, and undergraduates ₦450,000.
On student funding, the minister revealed that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has disbursed ₦77 billion to 396,000 students across 210 institutions. He also announced a ₦10 billion Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund and the release of ₦50 billion in June 2025 for long-outstanding Earned Academic Allowances.
Protection for Vulnerable Groups
The reforms also include a national anti-bullying policy, expanded nutrition and school feeding programmes, health insurance for Almajiri children, and girl-focused initiatives such as the Learning Under the Mango Initiative and the AGILE project.
International Partnerships
On partnerships, Alausa pointed to a €38 million ICT development project funded by the French Development Agency across 10 Nigerian universities. The initiative will strengthen hybrid learning, digital infrastructure, and education data systems.
“The era of piecemeal responses to education is over. We are cleaning up the system, restoring standards, and preparing Nigerian children to compete and thrive globally,” the minister said.
