World Bank prescribes Edo’s basic education model for other states

A delegation of the World Bank has indicated that Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBEST) is adequate for holistic transformation of basic education service delivery in states across Nigeria.

Senior Economist with the global lender, Mrs. Gloria Joseph-Raji, made the prescription during a courtesy visit to Governor Godwin Obaseki as part of activities marking the financial institution’s Edo Basic Education Sector and Skills Transformation Operation Program-for-Results (PforR) assessment visit.

She said: “Globally, we have socialised EdoBEST, as a lot of countries now know about the EdoBEST programme.

“Within Nigeria, EdoBEST is doing so well by helping to improve foundational learning. The management of the World Bank thinks that this is a model that can be scaled to other states in Nigeria. The Bank thinks that it is a useful model that other states in Nigeria can learn from.”

EdoBEST has addressed a myriad of challenges that faced the basic education sector in the state prior to its launch in 2018.

The programme currently runs in 1,330 state-owned junior secondary and primary schools across Edo, catering to learning and empowerment needs of over 350,000 pupils in all of the state’s 18 councils.

EdoBEST uses pedagogy similar to what is used in Bridge Kenya Schools. Earlier in 2022, a two-year study by Nobel prize-winning economist, Prof. Michael Kremer, confirmed that the methodology delivers superior learning outcomes compared to traditional methods used in state-run schools in the East African nation.

The model uses technology and roving quality assurance teams, who track effectiveness of implementation and learning outcomes in schools. Technology-backed teacher guides monitor attendance, timing of lesson delivery and pupil comprehension to ensure learning is simultaneously going on in all participating schools.

A central academic team periodically reviews outcomes to enable policy makers iterate lessons in real time and identify teacher needs to design further training modules.

The extensive data collected by the programme is used to dynamically improve its model and contribute to the pedagogy.

In February 2022, the EdoBEST programme was expanded to accommodate progressive schools (schools located in rural and hard-to-reach areas) and the result has been commended by parents, teachers, community leaders and pupils.

Responding, Governor Obaseki noted that thestate has instigated a revolution in education on the African continent.

He noted that the “difference between Edo and many other states in Nigeria is the scalability and the sustainability of what we have done with EdoBEST.”