Governor inaugurate distribution of learning materials, vehicles and motorcycles worth N2.7 billion to schools
Governor inaugurate distribution of learning materials, vehicles and motorcycles worth N2.7 billion to schools
He said this during the inauguration of the learning materials distribution exercise on Wednesday in Kebbi. | #broadscopenetwork
Gov. Nasir Idris of Kebbi has inaugurated the distribution of learning materials, vehicles and motorcycles worth N2.7 billion to schools in the state.
He said this during the inauguration of the learning materials distribution exercise on Wednesday in Kebbi.
Mr Idris listed the items to include two million copies of literacy and exercise books, computers, vehicles, motorcycles, among others.
“Kebbi is not only an agrarian state, it’s also an education state, in Kebbi, we offer free education. Today, we are witnessing distribution of books to schools,” he said.
Mr Idris said the state government had renovated and furnished over 2,000 schools, and constructed mega schools in each of the four emirate councils while N2 billion has been expended to settle registration fees for indigent students.
He said that his administration also recruited 2,000 qualified teachers and approved extension of years of service for teachers.
“In general, we have recruited 5,000 workers including teachers, doctors, nurses, other health workers, lawyers, among others in just two years in office.
“Extension of years of service for teachers from 35 to 40 years in Nigeria was my own pet-project.
“Before I was elected NUT president, that was the actual plight of teachers then, and I have raised and pursued it to the later, I am happy today it has come to reality,” Mr Idris said.
He, however, lamented that some of his counterparts didn’t domesticate the Extension of Years of Service for Teachers Bill in their respective states.
The governor said that his administration had deployed senior educationists within professorial ranks, to manage Local Government Education Authorities (LGEAs), to raise standards in the sector.
“Every chairman of LGEA will be provided with a vehicle and instructed by the SUBEB executive chairman, to double their allowances to encourage them to do more,” he said.
While appreciating the professors for their valuable contributions towards revamping education,Mr Idris charged them to do more to keep Kebbi above average in basic education, to enable the public schools to compete favourably with private ones.
The commissioner for education, Halima Bande, urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the items to take education to greater heights.
Also, Garba Bena, chairman, house committee on education, Kebbi State House of Assembly, pledged the legislators support to the education transformation programme of the Idris administration.
He said the House had passed the Extension of Years of Service for Teachers Bill, and assented by the governor.
The executive chairman, Kebbi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prof. Suleiman Khalid-Jega, lauded the governor’s investment in education.
He said the state government had constructed over 1,000 classrooms, drilled boreholes, provided furniture, hardware and software to the schools, to revolutionise the education sector.
Mr Khalid-Jega said the government also allocated N200,000 to each of the School Based Management Committees (SBMCs), trained 18,681 teachers and administrators.
“This is a clear indication that our teacher-governor is making judicious use of the state resources by positively investing in the education of our future leaders.
“Kebbi State occupies a large space in basic education in Nigeria. The state scores far above national average in core subjects, covering Mathematics, English and Basic Science.”
(NAN)
