The Niger Government is to spend N300 billion in revamping the state’s educational sector to meet up with extant global best practices.
Gov Mohammed Umaru-Bago, disclosed this on Tuesday in Minna during the groundbreaking ceremony for the revitalisation of basic education infrastructure in the state, with Marafa Basic School as the pilot scheme.
Umaru-Bago said arrangements have been concluded to expand schools and renovate them with N100 billion in 2025.
He added that an additional N100 billion would be provided for the remodelling and upgrading of schools to mega-schools.
The Governor also explained that the state government, in line with its inclusive quality education for all, was committing N5billion to expand and upgrade 25 existing Nomadic schools and intervention for Quranic and Tsangaya schools.
Umaru-Bago added that N5billion was set aside for children with special needs for the next five years.
He described education as a fundamental human right, adding,”every child deserves to have education.”
He stated that the state has made education free and compulsory at the basic level.
The governor also disclosed that the government was providing one million computers and tablets for learning across all public schools in the state for the children to be in tandem with the current global practices
Umaru-Bago said the new Niger Agenda was determined to provide succour to all the people of the state at all levels.
He, however, appreciated Universal Basic Education Board for itd collaboration and continued support to basic education.
Umar-Bago stated that the state, through its agro initiative, had put a levy of 5 per cent for all agro-allied produce for education with an estimate of N200billipn to be collated.
In his remarks, the Executive Chairman, Niger Universal Basic Education Board, Muhammad Ibrahim, commended Umaru-Bago for his remarkable strides in the education sector through his new Niger agenda.
He added that the Marafa basic school when revamped would have 128 classrooms, five e- libraries and two basic science laboratories, among others.
The Commissioner for Basic Education, Dr Asabe Hadiza-Mohammed, extolled the vision of the governor towards the education sector
She said the revitalisation of basic schools would open the way for a robust educational system where the children would be taught in a convenient environment.
She said, the inclusive education concept of the governor was bringing along girl-children with disabilities and girls in the rural communities, ensuring that no child was left behind.