18th October, 2013
The Federal Government on Friday launched the State Education Programme Investment Project (SEPIP) with Ekiti, Anambra and Bauchi as the benefiting states.
Chief Nyesom Wike, the Supervising Minister of Education, launched the project.
SEPIP, which is supported by the World Bank with 150 million dollars, is expected to improve quality of education and enhance equitable access and efficiency in education in the benefiting states.
According to Dr Saleh El-Amaout, the World Bank Country Director (CD) in Nigeria, the project is expected to address major concerns in Nigeria’s basic education sector.
El-Amaout said the criteria for the selection of the three states included “track record in executing reforms, past experience at implementing World Bank projects and respect for geo-political balancing in Nigeria.
“The states were also considered for their attitude as regards fiscal responsibility,’’ the bank official said.
The country director added that the effectiveness of the funds would be assessed in the implementation of compulsory basic education.
Earlier, Wike said that the major aim of SEPIP was to provide equitable access and efficiency in the education system of the participating states.
The decision to select the three states was taken based on lessons of implementation experience in Nigeria and emphasising enhanced focus on fewer states with sizeable funds for reforms that would be result-oriented.
“It will focus more attention on retention of girls and boys in Anambra, correct gender imbalance among teachers and ensure women representation,” he said.
Wike said the project would also support “needs-based teachers deployment, school-based management, accountability and measurement of student learning’’ in the three states.