Hussaini Ibrahim 
KATSINA, Nigeria – Governor Dikko Umaru Radda has approved more than N6.1 billion in School Improvement Grants targeting 110 schools across Katsina State as part of a sweeping education reform drive.
The intervention comes as northern Nigeria continues to battle classroom shortages, weak infrastructure and declining learning outcomes.
Speaking during the programme launch in Katsina on Friday, Radda says the second phase of the grant programme, valued at N6.1 billion, will fund classroom construction, rehabilitation of dilapidated buildings, gender-sensitive toilets and access to safe water in schools.
“Our vision is to build an education system that is inclusive, functional, accountable and capable of preparing our children to compete effectively in the modern world,” the governor says.
Government data presented at the event show more than 28,000 teachers have already been trained in modern teaching methods under the TESS Project, while digital tablets and textbooks for Mathematics, English and Computer Studies have been distributed statewide.
The administration also says CCTV cameras have been installed in 130 schools to improve security amid growing concerns over school safety in northern Nigeria.
Under the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment, more than 104,000 female students have benefited from conditional cash transfers designed to reduce school dropouts and improve girls’ education.
State Project Coordinator Abubakar Abdulhamid says 75 new secondary schools have been constructed under the programme, with 65 already completed and handed over.
“A total of 581 secondary schools has been upgraded through School Improvement Grants, benefiting over 778,000 students,” Abdulhamid says.
The government also confirms that specialised learning materials and assistive devices have been distributed to schools for visually and hearing-impaired learners in Katsina and Malumfashi.
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Oluwatobi Adu 
