FG, World Bank Boost Education In Nasarawa

By Ayodele Oni

The Federal Government and World Bank, through the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) initiative, are collaborating with Nasarawa state government to develop infrastructure in public schools.

Nasarawa State Commissioner For Education, Dr John Mamman, announced that under the collaboration, government 0earmarked N12 billion to improve the infrastructure in primary and secondary schools in the state.

The Commissioner disclosed this during an interview with journalists in his office on Friday in Lafia, the state capital.

Mamman gave the breakdown of the infrastructural development to include the construction of 30 new classrooms and the renovation of 690 existing primary and secondary schools.

He added that Gov. Abdullahi Sule has approved N150 million, and the state had already paid the money as a counterpart for the first phase of the programme.

“The Governor is willing to pay more this year so that we can improve the standard of infrastructures in our schools.

“We will also construct boreholes, toilets and construct parameter fencing in all the schools to guide against encroachment.”

Mamman further said that the government was working to merge all the Almajiri students from Tsangaya schools with formal education through the bilingual initiative to ensure all children have access to quality education.

The commissioner appreciated the state governor for prioritising the education sector by allocating the highest amount in the state budget since the inception of his administration in 2019.

He further revealed that the state government has already fixed 80 classrooms from the ones affected by windstorms during the last rainy season.

According to him, the ministry was working towards fixing the remaining ones to enable teachers and students to learn in conducive environments.

“We recently distributed instructional materials worth N46 million to public secondary schools and private schools in the state to boost teaching and learning.

“Anyone caught diverting the instructional materials will be severely punished to serve as a deterrent to others.”