Alhaji Shehu Muhammad, Kaduna State Commissioner for Education on Saturday says the government has made adequate provisions for the construction of six new Secondary Schools in addition to renovating 38 boarding schools across the state.
He made the disclosure in an interview with Journalists shortly after a meeting organised by Kufena Old Boys Association (KUFOBA) 1981 set, held at the college in Zaria.
“We are renovating the 38 boarding schools, we are building six new Secondary Schools, two per senatorial zone and we are also attending to a lot of Day Secondary Schools.
“Very soon by next session, God willing, we want to convert 13 Day Secondary Schools to boarding schools, and the need assessment is ongoing now and once that is done it will be converted to boarding.
“And when you are talking of boarding, you are talking of hostels, adequate classrooms, dinning hall, library, improving the dormitory and so on.
“Of course, it is a big task before us, but we want to see that happen by the beginning of next session by the grace of God.”
On challenges in the education sector, the Commissioner, said that even before his appointment, the government had made adequate provision to address some of the challenges.
He assured that in Kufena College, the government would specifically attend to the issue of fencing, hostels and classrooms rehabilitation, to provide conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning.
The commissioner said the rehabilitation of hostels in the college would resume soon, as the contractors were being mobilised back to site.
Muhammad also said issues of dining hall and students’ feeding would be looked into to ensure the provision of decent and hygienic food to students.
He also said that government would attend to issues affecting Physics, Chemistry and Biology laboratories and inadequate hostels in the school.
According to him, funding for that has been captured in the state’s 2019 supplementary budget.
The Commissioner appealed to all stakeholders, including parents, partners, donors, Parent Teachers’ Associations (PTAs) and Old Boys Associations of different sets to support the education sector in the state.
“We are appealing to every stakeholder to come and pick an aspect of what we are doing and improve on it, it is necessary for us, this is just 1981 set that came, we have those that graduated before and after 81.
“If every stakeholder comes in to contribute a little, that little thing he has contributed will become great and part of what we will be proud of tomorrow.
“So, we are using this opportunity to invite every stakeholder including the press, parents, teachers, individuals, philanthropist to come and invest in the education sector, that is our future and what our future generation will be proud of.”
Speaking on behalf of the entire staff of the school, the Guidance Counseling Master of the college, Mr Jonathan Baidi appreciated the 1981 set for remembering the college.
He pledged total commitment from the staff to ensure significant improvement in students performance especially in WAEC and NECO examinations.
While appealing to the old boys not to relent in their efforts, Baidi called on other sets of graduates to emulate the 1981 set, by also giving back to the college.
The meeting drew personalities and distinguished Nigerians from all walks of life including a Senator, Professors, Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries and Directors among others. (NAN)
