Sokoto State Government has allocated over N34 billion to tackle the challenges in the education sector, the Commissioner of Basic and Junior Secondary Education, Dr Jabbi Kilgori, has said.
Kilgore told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Sokoto that the allocation was in line with the declaration of state of emergency on the sector by the government.
He said that the money would be channelled towards improving infrastructure, teachers welfare and feeding of students among others.
“The state government declared emergency in the sector due to the enormity of the problems bedevilling it.
“The sector has continued to be bogged down by myriad of problems in spite of the several efforts made by the state government to move the sector forward,” he explained.
Kilgori said more than one million pupils and students in primary and junior secondary schools in the state would be catered for under the schools feeding programme.
“The pupils and students in primary schools, as well as day students in Junior Secondary Schools will be getting one meal per day.
“The pupils and students would be getting nutritious meals to boost their mental and physiological growth, to enable then focus on their studies.”
Kilgori explained that all areas of critical needs in the sector would be given due attention.
He said apart from massive construction, expansion, rehabilitation and equipping of schools, the government would also construct houses to accommodate teachers.
“The state government had also introduced rural allowances for teachers this year,” Kilgori said, adding that the administration would continue to accord top priority to teachers welfare including their training and retraining.
“The state government is fully committed to ensuring the successful implementation of the state of emergency to take the education sector out of its present crisis,” Kilgori pledged.
