Delta Education Budget Under Scrutiny as CSACEFA Urges Reform 

…. Calls for Urgent Action to Bridge Rural-Urban Disparities

The Delta State Coordinator of the Civil Society Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA), Mrs. Juliana Nzemeke, has called on the state government to significantly scale up budgetary provisions for the education sector, especially in underserved rural communities.

She made the appeal during the 2025 Education Summit organized by CSACEFA, with support from the Education Out Loud Project, held at the Delta State Secretariat in Asaba.

The summit, themed “Education Financing: Addressing Rural Education Disparities through Enhanced Budgetary Provision in Delta State,” brought together education stakeholders, civil society actors, and government representatives to explore funding gaps and policy reforms.

Mrs. Nzemeke noted that education is not merely about acquiring knowledge but about unlocking potential, fostering critical thinking, and empowering individuals to shape their destinies while building resilient communities capable of addressing future challenges.

She emphasized that despite national and international commitments, rural areas in Delta State continue to suffer severe educational neglect, a reality that undermines the future of young learners and the state’s long-term development.

Delivering the keynote address, education policy expert Dr. Michael Emeshili explained that effective education financing goes beyond disbursement of funds, emphasizing that it must strategically address tuition, infrastructure, teaching personnel, and operations.

Dr Emeshili warned that failing to equitably distribute resources between rural and urban schools will continue to deepen learning inequalities.

Mrs. Fidelia Atogun, Director of Planning, who represented the Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr. Sonny Ekedayen acknowledged the summit’s relevance, assuring stakeholders that government is taking steps to address the glaring disparities in education outcomes across Delta State.

In his remarks, Mr. Monday Ifoghere, Director of Patmon Community Development Centre in Eku, identified ongoing challenges in rural education such as lack of infrastructure, teacher shortages, and security concerns. He decried the unwillingness of posted teachers to resume duty in remote areas and called for stronger policy enforcement.

Calling on Civil Society Organizations to unite and speak with one voice, he encouraged them to keep pushing until the education system becomes inclusive, equitable, and fully functional.

A key highlight of the event was the presentation of a Policy Brief analyzing the 2022–2025 Delta State education sector budget, with a specific focus on funding gaps and how far the budget falls short of meeting international standards.