World Bank to launch education project

The World Bank's latest education initiative for Nigeria, the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Project, is slated to start in September, a World Bank official has said. Lead Education Specialist Brigitte Duces told IRIN on Thursday that the UBE project, which will cover all 36 states, aims to improve primary education for all school-age boys and girls. The project will be conducted in phases, the first of which will involve 16 states. Each state will receive US $5 million from the World Bank after the institution has approved the state's proposal for implementing the project. UBE, a multi-donor project spearheaded by the World Bank, will also include the construction and renovation of infrastructure and provision of teaching materials. The bank chose to implement the project in Nigeria because Africa's most populous nation has been greatly affected by 20 years of mismanagement which led to the deterioration of its education system, and also because the country could benefit from a revamped school system, Duces said. The total cost of the project is estimated at US $180 million. Other contributors include the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UN Children's Fund, the US Agency for International Development, and the Department for International Development (UK).