Katsina State Governor, Mallam Dikko Radda has launched the disbursement of the third phase of the AGILE school improvement grant, totaling over ₦8.4 billion (eight point four billion naira) to one hundred selected secondary schools across the state.
The World Bank-supported funds were disbursed to the school-based management committees (SBMCs) of the targeted schools during a ceremony held at Rimi Senior Secondary School.
In his address, Governor Radda said each of the benefiting schools is expected to receive over ₦85 million (eighty-five million naira).
The funds will be used for the renovation of dilapidated classrooms, construction of additional classrooms, toilets, and furniture, as well as providing water facilities.
Governor Radda explained that the AGILE grant disbursement has now covered over four hundred secondary schools across the state, with less than thirty schools remaining.
Appealing to the SBMCs to make the best use of the money, Governor Radda warned that failure to achieve at least 80% of the expected project deliverables could result in losing the opportunity for further grants. He directed members of the benefiting communities to closely monitor the projects to ensure quality work and report any substandard work for necessary action.
Earlier, the State Commissioner of Basic and Secondary Education, Hajia Hadiza Abubakar Yaradua, emphasized the Radda-led administration’s commitment to continued professional development for teachers in the state. She highlighted the recent training of ten thousand teachers as evidence of this commitment.
Hajia Hadiza Yar’adua also mentioned that the ministry is undertaking a thorough review of the school curriculum to ensure it meets educational standards and the needs of the students. She urged stakeholders to continue supporting the education sector, as its success depends largely on the collective effort of the government, educators, parents, and the community.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Mustapha Shehu, the State Coordinator of the Adolescent Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), clarified that of the ₦8.4 billion disbursed to one hundred schools, Rimi-Charanci-Batagarawa alone would receive ₦677 million (six hundred and seventy-seven million naira) for school improvement.
According to Dr. Shehu, the AGILE program is supporting over nineteen thousand vulnerable children in Rimi Local Government to encourage their education. He added that more vulnerable households are being identified to benefit from the program. Dr. Shehu stated that the program aims to cover a total of one hundred and fifty-three thousand households across the state before its conclusion.
He also highlighted the program’s success in increasing the number of students who have access to chairs in their classrooms, from about 13% to 80%. Dr. Shehu confirmed that the seventy-five new secondary school projects awarded under the program will be ready for commissioning next month.
In a vote of thanks, the Kauran Katsina District Head of Rimi, Alhaji Aminu Nuhu Abdulkadir, pleaded with the state government to consider converting a girls’ secondary school in Rimi town to a boarding school and to reconstruct the township road leading to the local government headquarters.