By Rita Iliya
Minna – The Niger State Government has commenced the renovation of 200 public schools across the state to provide conducive environment for teaching and learning.
Mr Jide Orintunsin, the Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger disclosed this to newsmen in Minna on Tuesday.
According to Orintunsin, the state government is constructing new and renovating blocks of classrooms in 200 public basic schools in preparation for the 2017/2018 academic session.
He said that the project would complement the 270 schools that were earlier constructed and renovated in the 25 councils since the inception of the administration in a statement.
He said that the project was in fulfillment of the governor’s restoration agenda for the educational sector following decades of neglect.
“Work has since begun in all the affected schools based on the orders of the governor who directed that construction and renovation works in the schools be completed on or before Sept. 25.
“The ongoing renovation work should be completed before school resumes to enable returning pupils have assess to their classrooms for the new academic session,” he said.
“The state government has rehabilitated nine secondary schools in each senatorial districts under its “Whole School Renovation Approach Scheme” to boost teaching and learning.
“Seven primary schools have also been rehabilitated under the scheme across the three geopolitical zones of the state.
“Eighty-eight primary and junior secondary schools were constructed in Niger South, additional 82 schools were built and rehabilitated in Niger East while 81 primary and junior secondary schools were also constructed and renovated in Niger North Senatorial zone in the last two years,’’ he said.
The governor’ s aide said that the state government had supplied 22,738 teachers and pupil chairs and tables to the various schools since inception of the present administration.
The statement noted that government would continue to accord the education sector priority to provide qualitative education to the people. (NAN)