FMINigeria:
The Zamfara State Government says it has awarded contract for the renovation, construction and supply of educational materials at the cost of 2.6 billion naira for all its 180 secondary schools.

Also, over 323 primary schools it says have been spread across the state.

Speaking at the Government Secondary School (GSS) Anka, the Commissioner for Education Zamfara State, Dr. Na’Ala Isa Mayana said the contract is being executed under the Zamfara State Education Action Plan 2011 – 2015.

He said the project has commenced with the 12 boarding schools for the 2012 Fiscal year comprising the supply of 10 thousand beds, 10 thousand mattresses and 10 thousand 3 seater desks.

At the GSS Anka the Team inspected the new Staff Quarters built by the present administration in the State.

Also speaking at the Township Primary School, Anka, Mr. Muritala Jengedi, Executive Chairman, Zamfara State Universal Basic Education Board said the present administration in the State renovated over 50 of such schools with 1.23 billion naira. “We have also fully furnished stand alone 1 block of three classrooms. We have 323 of these across the state”, Jengedi stated.

He further disclosed that the state has 41 ICT centres in 41 primary schools in 14 Local Government Areas set up at the cost of 300million naira. The contract he said was awarded on 19th March, 2012.

The Chairman ZSUBEB stated that Zamfara is the only state that has accurate data on school equipment, students, teachers among others. He said a report put together by indigenous professors of the state on the education sector received the commendation by UBEC and international donors adding that the report is being used as a blueprint to implement various projects in the sector.

Jengedi further informed that the sum of 3 billion naira was sourced from UBEC while an additional 2 billion naira was provided by the state governor bringing the total intervention in basic education to 5 billion naira.

He said another committee was setup led by a female lawyer which enrolled over 140 pilot schools to scale up girl child education which he disclosed also has the support of UNICEF.

The objective he said is to have over 2000 female teachers as role models to the girls.

Governor Abdulaziz Yari said he inherited a lot of projects on Education. He said “The administration came into office with a lot of zeal however resources were scarce”.

Considering the limited resources of the state, the Governor said the administration decided to prioritize its interventions on education.

The Governor who also lamented the trend of uncompleted projects in the state especially in the education sector declared that no contractor handling education projects was being owed from 2012 to date.

“We have given them the projects and we have set aside the funds. We have a dedicated account for them and at any point in time that they present their certificates the payment will be there because of the experience we had in the past.

“Some of the projects started in 2006, some 2007 and even in this school as I speak to you, there are some projects awarded since 2007 that are yet to be completed because I can see the lack of planning on the issue of finances”, Governor Yari said.

The NGGT Team also inspected similar project at the Kagalin – Jatau Primary School which is one of the 323 primary schools built by the state and dedicated for nomadic education and the Government Unity Secondary School, Gummi one of those renovated by the State Government..

The Minister of Information, Mr. Maku who interacted with the students at there saId urged the students to be more committed to their studies especially mathematics and english language as well as shun all forms of exam malpractice.

Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria