By Paul Effiong
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa has called on the National Assembly to give robust backing to the Federal Ministry of Education’s 2026 budget proposal, warning that the education system faces critical teachers shortage and deepening infrastructure deficit.
The minister, who made the request during the budget defence session at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, advocated a minimum allocation of 20 percent of the national budget to education.
According to him, such a request is in line with the recommendations by UNESCO, emphasising that sustained and adequate funding remains the backbone of national development all over the world.
The minister also argued that without significant investments, schools cannot equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to compete in a fast evolving global economy.
He, however, assured the lawmakers that the ministry would faithfully implement the 2026 budget once approved, delivering measurable and transformative outcomes.
Reacting to questions, the minister also revealed that Federal Unity Colleges are currently battling a deficit of more than 3,500 teachers, particularly in science, mathematics and technical subjects.
He, however, described the shortage as crippling the efforts to deliver quality education and produce globally competitive graduates.
According to the minister, urgent funding is required to recruit, train and retrain qualified teachers, noting that human capital development is central to achieving meaningful reform across the education sector.
The minister also highlighted growing security concerns in schools, especially in regions prone to kidnapping, banditry and armed robbery.
He equally lamented that many schools remain unfenced and lack stable electricity to power modern surveillance systems, leaving students and staff vulnerable.
Beyond insecurity, Alausa pointed out other challenges such as overcrowded classrooms, inadequate hostels, outdated laboratories, poorly equipped libraries and limited ICT penetration as major obstacles to effective teaching and learning.
He called for substantial investments in digital infrastructure, including computers and internet connectivity, to modernise classrooms and prepare students for a knowledge-driven economy.
The minister proposed the creation of a dedicated and ring-fenced scholarship account to guarantee timely disbursement of funds, particularly for students studying abroad, suggesting that payments might be made in local currencies or US dollars to shield beneficiaries from exchange rate volatility.
He noted that the 2026 budget aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and eight priority areas, focusing on returning out-of-school children to classrooms, improving school safety, strengthening teachers capacity and repositioning tertiary institutions.
