Sokoto to build 40 model secondary schools | EduCeleb
EduCeleb
14th March 2021
The Sokoto State government has disclosed its intention to build 40 model government secondary schools in the state.
This is part of the demonstration of the administration of Governor Aminu Tambuwal’s firm belief that education remains the pivotal factor in achieving any meaningful development in any society.
In addition, the government revealed its agenda of building 160 new primary and secondary schools in the state has recorded more than 50% of accomplishment.
A statement by the Director General, Peoples Democratic Party Givernors’ Forum, Hon. Cyril Maduabum on Sunday said governor Tambuwal made the disclosures at the combined first, second and third convocation ceremony of the Sokoto State University at the weekend in Sokoto.
Tambuwal, who is also the Chairman of the PDP Governors’, pointed out that the various steps coupled with the renovation of 1,500 primary schools and 180 junior secondary schools, clearly point to his administration’s commitment to the enhancement of the fortunes of the education at the basic and secondary levels in the state.
The governor recalled the construction in 2016, of Model Government Secondary School, Balle in Gudu Local Government, hitherto the only local government area without a senior secondary school in Nigeria.
All these, he noted, has set the standard guiding the expansion of the education subsector in Sokoto State.
According to Tambuwal, “education remains the pivotal factor in achieving any meaningful development in every society, particularly in this age of enlightenment, when knowledge remains the driver of socio-political, technological and economic development.
“It is in line with this reality that we see that education remains at the top of the priority list of this administration.
“Pursuant to our policy of a State of Emergency on Education since 2015, when we first came on board and in the current dispensation from 2019 to date, our budgetary allocation to education has never fallen below 26%.
“In 2016, we had a whopping 29% allocation to education above the UNESCO benchmark and ever since, we have maintained the tempo by ensuring sustained funding for the education subsector.
“Funding coming from the education levy, through the concern and goodwill of political office holders and civil servants in the state and a handsome budgetary allocation to education, have greatly assisted in turning around the fortune of the subsector in the state.
“The construction in 2016, of Model Government Secondary School, Balle in Gudu Local Government, hitherto the only Local Government Area without a Senior Secondary School in Nigeria, has set the standard guiding the expansion of the education subsector in Sokoto State.
“The intention is to build 40 such model secondary schools in the state, while our agenda of building 160 new primary and secondary schools in the state has recorded more than 50% of accomplishment.
“These, coupled with the renovation of 1500 primary schools and 180 junior secondary schools clearly point to our commitment to the enhancement of the fortunes of the education at the basic and secondary levels.
“Indeed, this unprecedented expansion is meant to provide access to education, particularly to the rural areas and the disadvantaged groups.
“The creation of the Agency for Girl-Child Education by our administration is aimed at implementing policies that are designed to promote the education of girls in the State.
“Education remains the pivotal factor in achieving any meaningful development in every society, particularly in this age of enlightenment, when knowledge remains the driver of socio-political, technological and economic development”, he said.
Tambuwal stated further that his administration is not unmindful of the problem of out of school children, stressing that the establishment of additional primary and secondary schools is aimed at providing access to education and thus addressing the problem of this category of children in the state.
He added, “associated to the problem of out-of-school children is the problem of street begging by school age children. The various steps taken and still being taken by the state and Federal Governments towards addressing the problem of Almajiri will be pursued rigourously”.