TE Summit: Lessons From The EdoBEST Model

23rd September 2022

When President Muhammadu Buhari stood on the floor of the United Nations to speak at the Transforming Education Summit (TE Summit) on 19, September he was fully aware of the import and gravity of the issues at stake

The TE Summit was convened in response to a global crisis in education, a situation in which Nigeria is familiar and enmeshed

Experts have pointed out that the crisis is one of equity and inclusion, quality and relevance. Their position is supported by available data which suggests that the country has circa 18.5-20 million out-of-school children with a third of those in school, not learning according to UNESCO and UNICEF

The data is grim At least 70% of children under the age of 10 in Nigeria cannot read or understand a simple text, according to UNICEF On the African continent, the situation is worse with 90% of children unable to read or understand a simple text This situation is aptly described as learning poverty

But this is not just a problem in lowincome countries Middle and highincome countries face the same challenge, albeit to a lesser degree

Leaders at the TE Summit had a rare and unique opportunity to elevate education to the top of the global political agenda and to mobilise action, ambition, solidarity and solutions to recover pandemicrelated learning losses and sow the seeds to transform education in a rapidly changing world.

President Buhari stood to the occasion and demonstrated his grasp of the issues. Speaking about the need for global collaboration in addressing the learning crisis, the importance of technology in addressing learning poverty, the allimportant role of teachers and the need to protect schools and marginalised groups, he reemphasized Nigeria’s commitment to education

Ironically, Edo state has systematically addressed the issues highlighted by President Buhari for almost half a decade under the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration

For four years, the EdoBEST programme has been at the forefront of pushing the frontier of providing quality basic education to over 300,000 children in Edo state in urban and hard-to-reach areas. Last November, State Universal Basic Education Board Chairmen from Nigeria’s 36 states and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja gathered in Benin City to understudy the EdoBEST programme.

The conclusion reached by the visiting Chairmen was that EdoBEST is a robust response to the many challenges facing the delivery of basic education services in Nigeria “EdoBEST came up with very specific objectives in terms of how you first ensure that you have the content that could be used in the classroom given that one of the key issues with the basic education sector is with instructional materials,” Dr Hamid Bobboyi, Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) said in an interview in Benin City in 2021

“EdoBEST developed a system whereby the teacher is trained, given a tablet, and that tablet has all the materials required through EdoBEST.

It’s a revolution,” he concluded In line with this assertion, EdoBEST has been able to address five critical issues which continue to ail basic education systems in many states in Nigeria (especially northern states) Firstly, it has reached every child in state-run basic education schools irrespective of their locations Secondly, it has prioritised teaching the fundamentals and building blocks of life-long learning and is inspiring a whole new generation to develop life-long skills relevant to the 21st century.

Additionally, it has increased the efficiency of instructions including catch-up learning through a recalibration of the basic education curriculum and the introduction of some initiatives like EdoBEST@Home, EdoBEST Special and EdoSTAR which all serve the purpose of greater inclusion

Finally, EdoBEST implemented a process to address the psychosocial health and wellbeing of children to enable them to learn happily and in conducive environments

In June 2022, a study conducted by Nobel Prize Winner and development economist, Prof. Michael Kremer (over a two-year period) in Kenya confirmed that the methodology used by Bridge Kenya Schools (and EdoBEST in Edo state) delivered learning outcomes that supersede traditional methods

The study suggests that children living in underserved communities in Kenya and attending Bridge Kenya Schools receive 53% more learning throughout their early childhood and primary school careers than children taught with traditional methodologies

Investigations show that the goals of the EdoBEST programme are being achieved

And no one has told the story of success better than the primary beneficiary of the programme

“Before EdoBEST, some of the children didn’t have the zeal to learn But now because of the introduction of the character board and the kind of cheers we sing, they started exhibiting a different kind of zeal to participate in lessons,” Teacher Gift Agho of Omoemu Nursery and Primary School, Uselu said at an event organised to mark the third anniversary of the programme.

“EdoBEST has helped me,” Mrs Justina Ehijiagbone, a headteacher pointed out “Before EdoBEST, it was a struggle to get my teachers to come to school and stay in school was a struggle They would just call me and say, ‘Headteacher my mummy is sick, I can’t come in today’ and they would just hang up But now because of the EdoBEST syncing, my teachers know it is not me who reports their absenteeism The computer records it directly Now teacher absenteeism has reduced significantly ”

Parents have also been vocal in supporting the programme

“I commot my pikin from the private school where I dey take am before from KG to Primary 1 because she no fit read and write on top all the plenty money way I don spend. But I say make I carry her go government school so I no go dey too waste money When I bring am come Agboghidi Primary School, where dem do EdoBEST, within 1 term I dey see her note where she dey read and write now,” Mrs Eunice Ogbede whose daughter attends Agboghidi Primary School said in pidgin English

The measurable impact of the programme has made it the gold standard of basic education sector transformation in Nigeria More stakeholders have called for the implementation of the programme in states across Nigeria

“Clearly Edo means business, as far as basic education is concerned Edo means business. So I urge us, the various Executive Chairmen of the various states here, to take this home and push basic education further in your states,” Professor Adamu Kyuka Usman, Chairman UBEC Governing Board told the Executive Chairmen gathered at the UBEC Quarterly meeting in Benin City last November

Adopting models similar to EdoBEST could significantly improve educational indices in Nigeria, tackle learning poverty and set the country on a sustainable education trajectory

However, barriers including poor political will and funding continue to inhibit the adoption of bold moves and reform

President Buhari has to be at the forefront of implementing the necessary changes to further lift Nigeria’s educational indices by inspiring states to implement necessary changes.

Additionally, multilateral institutions with the necessary funding should step forward to support state governments in Nigeria’s educationally disadvantaged states