Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, says Nigeria’s north-east and north-west regions still record the country’s lowest literacy and numeracy levels despite receiving 80 percent of education donor funding over the past decade.

Speaking at the Education World Forum in London, Alausa said new data from the National Education Data Initiative (NEDI) revealed that donor funding has not translated into improved learning outcomes in the regions.

According to the minister, the federal government will now redirect resources using verified data to improve results nationwide.

Alausa said the government is expanding foundational literacy and numeracy programmes across 15 states through the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), using structured lesson plans, teacher coaching and regular assessments.

He added that the Accelerated Basic Education Programme (ABEP) is helping out-of-school children gain foundational education and transition into junior secondary school within three years.

The minister also disclosed that the federal government is finalising a national policy on foundational literacy and numeracy, while plans are underway to increase UBEC’s share of the consolidated revenue fund from two percent to four percent under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.