Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has constructed more than 600 new classrooms within the first 20 months of his administration, significantly improving access to basic education. Additionally, 62 new secondary schools have been established under the AGILE project.
Speaking at the quarterly ministerial press briefing in Kaduna, the Commissioner for Education, Professor Muhammad Sani Bello, highlighted the administration’s commitment to fostering a conducive learning environment, resulting in notable improvements in the education sector.
He emphasized that these achievements align with Governor Sani’s campaign promises, focusing on expanding educational infrastructure and enhancing the quality of education. Since assuming office, the administration has increased the number of schools and classrooms while also improving learning conditions for both students and teachers.
“At the basic education level under SUBEB, more than 600 classrooms have been constructed since the beginning of this administration, with several others undergoing renovation. The era of students studying in unconducive environments has been averted,” he stated.
He further revealed that under the AGILE project, 62 new secondary schools have been built, with plans to construct 50 more before the administration’s second anniversary. The Commissioner also announced that six science secondary schools funded by the Islamic Development Bank, which had been stalled for 16 years, have now been completed and are fully operational, enrolling over 2,000 students in specialized science programs.
Highlighting the impact of the government’s policies on learning outcomes, Professor Bello noted an improvement in student performance in national examinations such as WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB. The pass rate for students obtaining five credits or more has increased from 54% to 67% since the administration took office.
Governor Sani’s dedication to education was also evident in his first Executive Order, which reduced tuition fees in all state-owned tertiary institutions by 40%. The fee reduction led to increased student enrollment at Kaduna State University (KASU), Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, and the College of Education Gidan Waya.
“Before this administration, many students had to leave Kaduna State’s tertiary institutions for those in neighboring states due to high tuition fees. Some even dropped out completely. This policy has now reversed that trend,” the Commissioner explained.
He also disclosed that Kaduna State-owned tertiary institutions have introduced new courses, all of which have successfully passed regulatory accreditation. KASU programs were verified by the National Universities Commission (NUC), while the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the National Commission for Colleges of Education accredited the courses at Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic and the College of Education Gidan Waya, respectively.
The administration is also taking steps to reduce the number of out-of-school children by constructing more schools and expanding access to education. The initiative is being supported by five development partners, including the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), Education Above All (EAA), Save the Children International (SCI), and UNICEF.
According to Professor Bello, the Kaduna State Bureau of Statistics has mapped out areas without schools, and plans are in place to build 102 new schools and renovate over 200 existing ones. The goal is to ensure that no child has to walk more than one kilometer to attend school.
He further stated that the Special School for Gifted Children at Millennium City is 90% complete, and the Tsangaya Bilingual Schools Project has been significantly expanded with support from UBEC and IsDB.
