Jutha Gupah, Maiduguri October 26, 2020
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state; has enrolled 3,000 deprived children into Maiduguri mega schools. According to him, the two mega schools, are to be run by low-in communities in Ajilari and Abuja Sheraton of the metropolis. While commissioning the schools and access road on Monday in Maiduguri, the state capital; he disclosed that most of the enrolled children are from underprivileged parents and guardians. “Today marks a milestone of 3,000 children enrolment in schools,” he said, noting that they are deprived of education, because their parents could not afford sending them to primary schools. He added that another access school and communities road, be also built before the end of this year. The three-story mega-schools; were sited at Ajilari Cross in Jere council and Abuja-Sheraton in Maisandari community of Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC). According to him, many out of school children are living in low-income communities of Maiduguri. Speaking on schools’ capacities, he said: “Each of the schools has 30 classrooms with each to accommodate 40 to 50 pupils,” adding that the classrooms of mega schools could accommodate 3,000 pupils. He explained that the schools have been equipped with desks and chairs. He said the enrolled children, are being provided with free school uniforms for “cleanliness and teacher identifications.” Zulum added that 48 teaching and non-teaching staff, including the head teacher are already engaged, as public schools resume yesterday (Monday). On how communities run schools, he said: “Government is handing over the schools to the communities. “They are expected to run the schools through a Committee within the community, while the state government will pay teachers’ salary through the Education Trust Fund (ETF) grants on monthly basis.” He also ordered the construction of two boreholes to serve the community, where the school is sited. The Governor had recently approved the employment of over 766 teachers for secondary schools, pledging that; “I pledged to employ hundreds of primary school teachers, after completion of ongoing verification and standardization of teachers.”
