School enrolment hits 2.1m in Kaduna state

Kaduna State has recorded an increase in pupils’ enrolment into public primary schools, hitting 2.1 million against one million in 2015.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai said told the Executive Secretary of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Hamid Bobboyi in Abuja on Thursday.

El-Rufai who visited the commission, said the increase in pupil enrolment was as a result of government’s free Universal Basic Education (UBE) policy and renewed drive to provide improved learning facilities in the State.

“From the 1 million figure recorded in 2015, the total primary school enrolment in Kaduna State now stands at 2.1 million, ” he said.

El-Rufai highlighted other landmark achievements of his administration to include the 35 per cent budgetary allocation to the education sector.

The governor said others included renovation of 608 primary schools out of a total of the total of 4,200 primary schools in the State.

“The plan is to maximise the use of available school space by constructing multi-storey structures in existing schools.

“Establishment of model schools across the State and other interventions toward improving basic education especially the improvement of teacher quality,” he said.

The governor added that efforts were being made to gradually replace obsolete equipment and method from the school system and replace them with contemporary practices.

El-Rufai said that very soon schools in Kaduna State would have white boards instead of the usual blackboard.

Bobboyi commended UBE delivery in the State, particularly increased access to basic education, systematic approach to improving school infrastructure and the State’s commitment to quality UBE service delivery.

He urged the government to continue to exemplify leadership in this direction as Kaduna was known to be the regional capital not only in politics but also in other human endeavours.

He pledged UBEC’s continued support to the State within its operational mandates and commended the Governor for taking out time to visit UBEC. (NAN)