Hussaini Kafi in Kano
The Katsina State government has made substantial investments in the education sector, with expenditures exceeding N120 billion across various educational initiatives and infrastructure development projects.
During the third edition of the monthly press briefing delivered by Deputy Governor Malam Faruk Lawal Jobe, the administration highlighted significant achievements in basic, secondary, and tertiary education since assuming office on May 29, 2023.
He stated, “At the basic education level, the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) executed projects worth N9.1 billion, including the construction of 160 classrooms, 81 boreholes, and 46 toilets and 20 staff quarters.”
“Also, 258 classrooms were rehabilitated in addition to the provision of 612 teachers’ furniture and 14,602 two-seater pupils’ furniture. Facilities such as books, teaching aids and instructional materials, namely laptop/desktop computers, tablets, solar powered panels, inverter were provided. Additionally, motorcycles and vehicles were procured for effective monitoring,” Malam Lawal recounted.
He stated that the government also provided essential learning materials and conducted training for 274,816 education officials which
comprise primary school teachers, integrated Qur’anic schools’ teachers, officials of Better Education Service Delivery for All, (BESDA), as well as teachers at private schools.
“As part of the infrastructural development plan in our schools, the sum of N5,641,369,114.00 was expended under the Transforming Education System at State Level, (TESS-Project) /Better Education for Service Delivery Additional Financing (BESDA-AF), for the construction and rehabilitation of 150 primary schools across the State,” Lawal stated.
Speaking further, Lawal made it known that the Government, through the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, spent the total sum of N6,804,415,196.00 for the construction and rehabilitation of some schools, provision of science and technical education consumables, books, instructional materials, furniture as well as feeding of boarding students among others.
“In the same vein, 3 Special Model Secondary Schools are being constructed at Radda, Dumurkul and Jikamshi while rehabilitation works were also carried out at Government Day Secondary Schools Funtua, Jikamshi, Ingawa, Zango and GGSS Kabomo,” he pointed out.
He equally notes the procurement of an additional science equipment and materials which were distributed to 36 secondary schools across the State.
On science and technical education, Lawal revealed that the government expended the sum of N1,465,061,582.28 for feeding of boarding students at schools under the State Science and Technical Education Board, as well as for reconstruction and rehabilitation of structures at GCC Mai’adua, GTC Ingawa, GGSSS Malumfashi, GGCC Charanchi, GSSS Musawa, GSSS Kaita, GSSS Faskari and GTC Mashi.
Under the AGILE project, Deputy Governor Lawal disclosed that the administration has constructed 75 new junior and senior secondary schools at N13.6 billion, with an additional 77 schools in under construction at N36.8 billion. The project also includes the rehabilitation of 578 schools and provision of digital learning materials worth N6.6 billion.
Similarly, he recalled the special grants for renovation of 75 new constructed secondary schools, provision of conditional cash transfer to 104,111 girls across 255 secondary schools and, renovation/expansion of existing school infrastructure, provision of WASH and Games facilities to 578 secondary schools across the State.
In line with the governor promise to make proper partnership with AGILE and drive education growth, a total of 45 existing Junior and Senior Secondary Schools are identified for rehabilitation at the cost of N10,800,000,00.00
The Deputy Governor explained that the project expended the sum of N6,600,000,000.00 in procuring teaching materials such as; Digital Learning Materials for 170 schools, Digital Literacy Books for 200 schools, Solar, Inverter and Batteries for 170 schools, 1,200 refuse containers for 600 secondary schools and 1No of Toyota Corolla for Project Finance Management Unit.
Others are instructional Materials to 170,000 students, distribution of teaching and learning materials to focus schools for effective implementation and empowering 60,000 girls with life skills.
“This laudable initiative has tremendously increased girls enrolment in our schools and improved their educational advancement,” he informed.
“At Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, government has expended the sum of N314,605,500.00 to restore adequate electricity supply. This is in addition to the provision of solar security lights at the cost of N98,246,064.00 aimed at enhancing security at the campus and promoting sustainable energy solutions within the University,” he continued.
“This administration has also released the sum of N135,992,00.00 as accreditation fee for various programs in 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic sessions by the National Universities Commission (NUC),” the Deputy Governor said.
The monthly press briefing aims to keep the good people of Katsina state informed about the policies, programmes and achievements of Governor Radda led administration and it’s ‘Building Your Future’ agenda.
