FG Launches Bold Education Reform With Free Technical Schooling, Cash Transfers For Mothers
The Federal Government has unveiled the Basic Education Transformation Agenda (BETA), a sweeping reform package designed to boost school enrolment, strengthen technical training, and improve learning outcomes nationwide.
Announcing the initiative in Abuja, Minister of Education Dr Tunji Alausa said BETA introduces Conditional Cash Transfers to mothers to encourage children’s consistent school attendance, alongside a Back2School Drive in partnership with the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education.
Under the scheme, the government will cover full enrolment costs during official handovers.
From the 2025/2026 academic session, students in federal and state technical colleges will enjoy free tuition, boarding, feeding, uniforms and protective gear, plus a ₦22,500 monthly stipend.
The government has also approved ₦120bn for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), with training structured to be 80% practical and 20% theoretical, linked to industry through certified trainers and internships.
Teacher retraining forms the backbone of the reforms, with plans to train five million youths in four years. Already, 270 technical teachers have received digital and trade-specific skills training in Ibadan, while 6,000 senior secondary teachers are undergoing training in artificial intelligence.
The reforms also include:
₦80bn rehabilitation of unity schools and full modernisation of 38 federal and state technical colleges.
The STEMM Nigeria Agenda (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medical Sciences) with up to ₦50m STEMM Up Grants for undergraduate-led innovations.
An upward review of annual scholarship grants: ₦750,000 for PhD, ₦600,000 for Master’s, and ₦450,000 for undergraduates.
Over ₦77bn disbursed to 396,000 students under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
A ₦10bn Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund and ₦50bn released in June 2025 for Earned Academic Allowances.
To protect vulnerable groups, the FG has rolled out a national anti-bullying policy, expanded nutrition and school feeding programmes, health insurance for Almajiri children linked to enrolment, and girl-focused projects including the Learning Under the Mango Initiative and AGILE.
On global partnerships, Alausa highlighted a €38m ICT development project funded by the French Development Agency across 10 Nigerian universities to boost hybrid learning, digital infrastructure, and education data systems.
“The era of piecemeal responses to education is over,” Alausa declared. “We are cleaning up the system, restoring standards, and preparing Nigerian children to compete and thrive globally.”
