Cross River State Partners with World Bank to Train Teachers for Improved Primary Education

The Cross River State government, partnering with the World Bank’s Project Hope Education, has launched an extensive teacher training program aimed at closing learning gaps in English and Mathematics across primary schools throughout the state. The initiative highlights the state’s commitment to enhancing education quality by equipping teachers with better pedagogical skills.

The three-day intensive workshop, held simultaneously from October 29 to 31, 2025, took place at the Teachers’ Continuous Training Institute (TCTI) in Biase and additional centers in Ikom and Ogoja. This decentralized approach enabled wide participation of primary school teachers from all three senatorial districts, reinforcing the reach and inclusivity of the program.

Commissioner for Education, Professor Stephen Odey, emphasized that the state government is dedicated to continuous professional development for teachers to improve manpower capacity and educational outcomes. He noted this training is part of Governor Senator Bassey Otu’s “People-First” philosophy and commitment to quality teacher development.

Odey referenced national research revealing that approximately 45.8 million Nigerian children aged between 5 and 14 cannot read or comprehend simple texts, reflecting an alarming national learning deprivation rate of 76 percent. The collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the World Bank aims to address policy and service delivery challenges to reverse this trend in Cross River State.

The Chairperson of SUBEB, Fidelia Okpo-Ene, acknowledged the commitment of the TCTI to continuous instructional excellence and announced a partnership between SUBEB and TCTI to sustain teacher development programs.

Professor Taoheed Adedoja, Director-General of TCTI and a former World Bank consultant, described the workshop as delivering “immeasurable value” to foundational education. He praised the governor’s commitment to advancing teacher professional knowledge while thanking the World Bank for its support.

Dr. Adekunle Adekola, Senior Education Specialist at the World Bank’s Abuja office, praised the collaboration, recognizing Governor Otu as one of the few Nigerian governors fully engaged with the Project Hope Education as a critical tool for the nation’s economic growth.

ADVERTISEMENT

In addition to teacher professional development, Cross River State recently acted decisively to reform its educational system to tackle the learning crisis more broadly. Major reforms include implementing a uniform academic calendar across all schools, introducing a unique index number system to improve pupil data management and prevent fraudulent transfers, and prohibiting compulsory after-school lessons to reduce student fatigue and financial burdens on parents. Schools now close at 1:00 pm for primary and 2:00 pm for secondary levels.

The government has also mandated anti-bullying committees and anti-drug clubs in every school. Students found bullying face immediate expulsion, while clubs are tasked with awareness and discipline enforcement.

Additionally, the state banned publishers from embedding workbooks into textbooks to promote reuse and cost savings. Financially, the government approved N2 billion in partnership with the Canadian government to establish a Nigerian/Canadian International school, and allocated N440 million to cover WAEC exam fees for 16,301 indigenous pupils.

These comprehensive measures demonstrate Cross River State’s proactive efforts to not only uplift education standards but also make education more accessible and safer for children, aligning with global best practices while addressing local realities.