By Bashir Rabe Mani
Sokoto – The Sokoto State Government and the Nigerian Army have teamed up to establish two new schools in Sokoto town and Shagari Local Government Area, the Commissioner for
Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Jabbi Kilgori, said.
Kilgori stated in a statement in Sokoto on Sunday that one of the schools, a primary, would
have boarding facilities that would cater for children aged between five and 12 years.
He noted that the second one, a secondary school, would be for day students and would be sited at the Giginya Barracks, Sokoto.
The commissioner stated that the partnership with military authorities would expand access to education for military personnel and their families.
The partnership would also give opportunity for citizens in local communities to tap from military’s expertise in school management, he added.
He said that “an important component of the state of emergency declared in the education sector in Sokoto State provides for cooperation with institutions and agencies who have the expertise and are interested in developing education in Sokoto.
“In that regard, we are partnering with the Nigerian Army to widen access to education by providing additional schools in the state.
“The partnership provides that the state government will provide land and requisite infrastructure, while the Nigerian Army will provide personnel and teaching facilities.
“This is a beginning of a relationship which we hope to expand in the future. Both sides are happy with preparations for the take off of the schools.
‘“We are confident that it will benefit our citizens going forward.”
Meanwhile, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal had approved the upward review of feeding allowance for boarding school students in Sokoto State, the commissioner said.
He explained that “due to the current inflation in prices of foodstuff in markets, Gov. Tambuwal has approved an increase in feeding allowance of boarding students in public schools from N70 to N140 per student per day.”
The commissioner then urged contractors handling supplies to schools to ensure prompt delivery in accordance with stipulated guidelines.