Kaduna State Commissioner of Education, Prof. Muhammad Sani Bello, has disclosed that Governor Uba Sani’s administration plans to build 102 new schools in communities without schools.
He said the project aimed to ensure that no child treks more than one kilometre to access a school in Kaduna state.
Prof. Bello said the governor has enacted policies and programmes that expand access to education and provide a conducive learning atmosphere, resulting in positive outcomes in the education sector.
Commissioner Bello, who stated this at the quarterly ministerial press briefing held at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House on Wednesday, said that Governor Sani’s policies aligned with his campaign promises.
Prof. Bello pointed out that the administration has constructed more schools and additional classrooms and improved the quality of both learners and teachers since he assumed office.
‘’At the basic education level under SUBEB, more than 600 classrooms have been constructed since the beginning of this administration, and quite a number are being renovated, the era of having students studying in an environment that is not conducive for learning has been averted,’’ he said.
Prof. Bello said 62 new secondary schools have been built under the AGILE project and promised that 50 more will be built before this administration’s second anniversary.
He further disclosed that the six science secondary schools funded by the Islamic Development Bank are now running.
‘’That project started 16 years ago but was stalled and abandoned. This administration completed the school, and more than 2,000 students have been enrolled in those schools, which are pure science schools,’’ he recalled.
The commissioner argued that the present administration’s policies have resulted in good learning outcomes, as can be attested to by the results of national examinations conducted by WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB.
Prof. Bello disclosed that the percentage of students who passed with five credits in those examinations before the coming of this administration was 54%, adding that the rate is now 67%
The Commissioner further recalled that Governor Uba Sani’s commitment to education was evident in his first Executive Order, which reduced tuition fees in all state-owned tertiary institutions by 40%.