Uba Sani built, renovated 3,267 classrooms in three years – Education secretaries

The Forum of Education Secretaries in Kaduna State has revealed that the administration of Governor Uba Sani constructed and rehabilitated about 3,267 classrooms across the state between 2023 and 2026.

The forum also disclosed that 2,232 toilets, 87 science laboratories, 29 computer centres and 180 boreholes were provided in basic education schools during the period.

The Education Secretaries, representing the 23 Local Government Education Authorities, made this known when they converged at the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board Conference Hall, Kaduna, in the state capital.

The forum said the interventions had significantly expanded learning spaces and improved the basic facilities available to pupils and teachers across the state.

Specifically, the Chairman of the forum, Adamu Mu’azu, told Arewa PUNCH that the assessment was based on records and developments witnessed within schools and communities across the 23 local government areas.

According to him, the interventions also included the provision of 81,540 pieces of teachers’ and pupils’ furniture, 35 Games Villages and furniture for Early Childhood Care, Development and Education.

He said the administration had further facilitated the construction of four bilingual education schools in Igabi, Zaria, Kubau and Giwa, comprising 192 classrooms expected to accommodate about 7,680 learners.

“Together, these investments address learning space, sanitation, water, furniture and other conditions that directly affect school functionality,” Mu’azu said.

He, however, called for sustained maintenance of the facilities to ensure that the investments continued to serve pupils and teachers effectively.

Beyond physical infrastructure, the forum said 545,748 teaching and learning materials covering literacy, numeracy, science and other subjects had been distributed to basic education schools.

Mu’azu added that 7,584 sports equipment and 110 smart boards were also supplied to schools to strengthen sports development and digital literacy.

On teacher development, the forum said more than 33,137 teachers, head teachers and school support officers had been trained in basic computer skills, classroom management, literacy and numeracy skills as well as school management information systems.

He further pointed out that another 8,730 School-Based Management Committee members were trained in school leadership, resource mobilisation and school development planning.

The forum also commended the administration for introducing the annual Kaduna Best Teacher of the Year Award, which it said had provided N12.5m in cash prizes to 23 teachers, in addition to scholarships and other incentives.

On teachers’ welfare, the Education Secretaries said the government had implemented the new minimum wage for primary school teachers, increasing the salary from N38,000 to N72,000.

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“They also said N548m was released to resolve the longstanding Nigeria Union of Teachers Endwell Scheme dispute,” Mu’azu revealed further.

According to the forum, the administration also cleared teachers’ promotion backlogs covering 2021 to 2024.

The secretaries welcomed the proposed recruitment of an additional 10,000 teachers, saying the move would help address manpower shortages in schools, particularly in communities experiencing increased enrolment.

“Recruitment should be supported by effective induction, supervision and continuous professional development,” the forum said.

Also speaking, the Chairman of ALGON, Kaduna State chapter, Sheikh Jamilu Abubakar, who doubles as the Chairman of Sabon Gari Local Government Area, was represented at the event by the Vice Chairman of ALGON and Chairman of Kajuru LGA, Dauda Madako

Madaki said he was speaking on behalf of the ALGON chairman and the association’s Kaduna State chapter.

“On behalf of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Kaduna State chapter, we join the Forum of Education Secretaries to celebrate the remarkable progress made in basic education across Kaduna State,” he said.

“As local government leaders, working closely with education support groups and communities, we are witnessing first-hand the transformation taking place in our schools, more children enrolled, more classrooms, more teachers trained and deployed, and a renewed sense of hope among parents that quality education is within the reach of their children.”

Madaki commended Governor Sani for what he described as the political will and consistent investment in the education sector.

“His Excellency’s leadership has demonstrated that basic education is not merely a policy priority, but a genuine commitment to securing the future of our children and our dear state,” he said.

He pledged ALGON’s continued support for community mobilisation, increased school enrolment, engagement with School-Based Management Committees and collaboration with the state government.

Madaki also cited a school in his local government area which, according to him, was originally constructed in 1976 and was recently handed over after extensive renovation.

“There is a school in Afobokurita. This school was first constructed in 1976. Only last Saturday, it was handed over after 50 years. It has never happened in my local government, and most schools are on the way to renovation,” he said.

He described the development as evidence of the administration’s attention to basic education across local communities.