Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state is to address the root causes of Boko Haram insurgency with education; that claimed many lives and property. According to him, no genuine social transformation and economic development will take place without education. The governor disclosed this Monday in Maiduguri, while presenting N134.5 billion budget to House of Assembly for consideration and passage into law.
He said education sector, is the topmost priority of government by allocating N23.63 billion in next year’s budget proposals. “To finds solutions to the root causes of insurgency; we must revamp the education sector to cater for the teeming population,” he said, stating that school drop outs and out of school children be catered for through education. Continued: “We must improve on the school infrastructure, accessibility to quality education and build the capacity of teachers.” He assured that teaching and learning environment must not only be conducive, but teaching staff are to be motivated to work.
According to him, frantic efforts were made in the last six months to construct more schools. “We also continued with complete rehabilitation of school infrastructures that were started with previous administration,” said Zulum before the legislators. He said that major rehabilitation works were carried out on 20 primary and post-primary schools, including the building to three new mega schools. On new education projects, he said: “Next year; we will construct new mega schools from in Wuyo and Chibok, and technical schools in Mbalala and Bulabulin (Maiduguri). “Higher Islamic Secondary Schools in Dikwa, Monguno and Biu councils’ are also be built next year. “We’ll continue with the rehabilitation drive, with the provision of furniture, infrastructure and learning materials and capacity building of teachers.”