Cross River Partners World Bank in Massive Teacher Training to Erase Maths, English Learning Deficits

The Cross River State Government, in a determined effort to overhaul its basic education sector, has launched a massive, statewide teacher training program in partnership with the World Bank’s Project Hope Education. The ambitious initiative is specifically designed to address alarming foundational learning deficits in English and Mathematics across primary schools.

The announcement, which became public today, Sunday, November 2, 2025, revealed that the program aims to train a staggering over 11,752 primary school teachers across the state’s three senatorial districts. This effort signals a renewed focus by the Governor Bassey Otu administration on producing a generation of pupils with essential literacy and numeracy skills.

The first phase of the intensive training themed “Enhancing Pedagogical Practices for Effective Teaching and Learning of English and Mathematics in Primary Schools”—was executed simultaneously across centers in Biase, Ikom, and Ogoja to ensure widespread participation.

₦17 Billion Financial Commitment

The state’s Commissioner for Education, Professor Stephen Odey, underscored the high stakes of the program, noting that national statistics reveal millions of Nigerian children struggle with basic literacy and numeracy. He emphasized that the collaboration is not just about training but about substantial reform.

Crucially, the partnership is set to unlock significant financial resources. The state is expected to receive over ₦17 billion from the World Bank as reimbursement for successfully meeting the performance targets of the Hope Education Programme, emphasizing the result-driven nature of the collaboration.

“This program is a professional training development circle put together by His Excellency, Senator Bassey Otu’s People-First mantra and commitment to continuous teacher professional training,” Professor Odey stated. He stressed that the ultimate goal is to develop “competent and resourceful teachers” who can directly improve learning outcomes, not just school attendance figures.

The State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Chairperson, Barr. Fidelia Okpo-Ene, commended the Teachers Continuous Training Institute (TCTI) for its role in the project, affirming that the partnership with the World Bank marks a significant investment in the future quality of education delivery in Cross River State.