By Abel Abogonye, Lafia
Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule said the government has concluded plans to splash over N12 billion to renovate 690 existing primary, and secondary schools and build 30 new ones in the state.
Commissioner for Education, Dr John Mamman, said this in an interview with journalists in Lafia, on Friday.
According to the Commissioner, the money is a counterpart funding in collaboration with the World Bank, and a non-governmental organisation called Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), on the ground to ensure strict supervision and implementation of the projects.
“The first one, the state government paid N150 million, the World Bank is more than willing to give in return. The Governor, is willing to pay more this year so that we can add to the standard of renovations and construction of new schools,” John said.
The commissioner noted that the first phase of the project includes the renovation of 690 schools, while the second phase is the construction of 30 new schools.
He thanked Sule for approving the release of N150 million to the partners to enable the state to access the fund to revamp the education sector of the State.
The commissioner, who lamented that 272 primary and secondary schools were affected by windstorms last rainy season, said over 80 have been fixed to enable students and teachers to learn in a conducive atmosphere.
The commissioner, however, denied the allegations that some schools were taxing students to buy chalk and learning materials and warned that any school principal or teacher found wanting in this regard would be punished accordingly.
