Kaduna State Government has inaugurated basic education infrastructure and learning interventions across the 23 local government areas of the state.
Deputy Gov. Hadiza Balarabe, who represented Gov. Uba Sani, said the interventions reflected the administration’s commitment to human capital development.
Balarabe spoke on Monday during the commissioning of education projects at Sultan Bello Primary School, Unguwan Sarki, Kaduna.
She said the administration viewed investment in basic education as an investment in the future of Kaduna State and Nigeria.
According to her, the interventions went beyond buildings and facilities, as they were designed to improve learning and develop children’s potential.
She said 3,267 classrooms had been constructed or rehabilitated across the state since 2023.
Balarabe said the government had also provided toilets, hand-pump boreholes, science laboratories, computer centres and furniture to schools.
“These facilities are intended to move our children beyond basic learning and expose them to knowledge and skills required in a changing world,” she said.
She said the government had supplied teaching and learning materials covering literacy, numeracy, science and other core subjects.
The deputy governor said vocational centres had also been established in public basic schools to expose pupils to practical skills.
She listed the skills to include welding, electrical installation, carpentry, fashion design, solar installation, plumbing and masonry.
Balarabe said the government had trained teachers, head teachers and school support officers in computer skills, classroom management, literacy, numeracy and school management.
She said members of School-Based Management Committees had also received training in school leadership.
The deputy governor said government had extended teachers’ service years from 35 to 40 years and retirement age from 60 to 65 years.
She urged local education authorities, school management committees, parents and host communities to protect and maintain the facilities.
Balarabe said the real measure of the interventions would be reflected in classrooms filled with children and teachers equipped to teach effectively.
Earlier, Commissioner for Education, Prof. Abubakar Sani Bello, said 3,267 classrooms and 2,252 toilet facilities had been provided across the state.
He said 180 boreholes, 87 science laboratories, 29 computer centres and 81,540 furniture units had also been provided.
Bello said 545,748 teaching and learning materials had been distributed to schools across Kaduna.
He said four bilingual education schools were completed in Rigachikun, Zaria, Giwa and Kauru with support from UBEC and the Islamic Development Bank.
According to him, the schools would provide 192 classrooms and accommodate about 7,680 children, including those previously out of school.
He said nine vocational centres had also been established in public basic schools to provide pupils with technical and vocational skills.
Bello said more than 33,177 teachers, head teachers and school support officers had received various forms of training.
He added that 8,730 members of School-Based Management Committees had been trained in school leadership and development planning.
The commissioner said the state had reviewed the minimum wage for primary school teachers from N18,000 to N72,000.
He said the government also released N558 million to retired teachers across the state.
Chairman of Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board, Malam Mubarak Muhammad, said the interventions were aimed at improving learning outcomes.
Muhammad said the state had delivered 3,267 classrooms, 2,232 WASH facilities, 180 boreholes, 29 computer laboratories and 87 science laboratories.
He said more than 1.1 million teaching and learning materials, 18 smart boards, 55 motorcycles and three golf wagons were being commissioned.
The SUBEB chairman said the equipment would strengthen digital learning, supervision and quality assurance across schools.
He said more than 33,000 teachers, head teachers and school support officers had received training in various areas.
Muhammad said the Teaching at the Right Level programme was being implemented in 10 local government areas.
He added that the governor had committed to extending the programme to the remaining 13 local government areas.
An old student of Sultan Bello Primary School, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, commended the government for upgrading the school.
Gumi, who graduated from the school in 1969, said the facilities were more advanced than those available during his time.
He appealed to the government to consider solar power for the school to sustain the use of smart boards.
Representing the Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Nuhu Bamalli, the District Head of Gabasawa, Alhaji Shitu Ibrahim, commended the state government for investing in education.
Ibrahim said the renovated school represented an investment in children, their education and the future of Kaduna State.
Newsmen report that the projects were supported by the Islamic Development Bank through UNICEF under the Reaching Out-of-School Children Project.