Sokoto Gov’t plans 3 mega schools with N6bn to address 85:1 Pupil-Teacher ratio
Sokoto Gov’t plans 3 mega schools with N6bn to address 85:1 Pupil-Teacher ratio
From Bashir Rabe Mani in Sokoto
The Sokoto State Government has earmarked over N6 billion for the construction of three mega schools, one in each Senatorial District, to decongest overpopulated schools and meet international education standards.
Chairman of the Sokoto State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Alhaji Umaru Nagwari Tambuwal, disclosed this on Tuesday in Sokoto during a press briefing to mark the third year anniversary of *Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto*.
Tambuwal said the mega schools were conceived by Gov. Aliyu following study tours to Borno, Yobe and Kaduna States.
“Each mega school is designed to have 60 classrooms, principal’s house, vice principal’s house, headmaster’s house, playing ground, shopping complex, ICT center and medical facility.
“Each school will consume more than N2 billion. That is roughly N6 billion minimum. And we have the money,” he said.
Alhaji Umaru Nagwari Tambuwal further said the mega schools would enable Sokoto State to meet the extant international standard of 25 pupils per one teacher, as against 85 pupils per one teacher currently in some schools across the state.
“We are charting to identify existing schools, number of teachers by qualification, and enrollment so we know where the gaps are.
” The internationally accepted standard is is 25 pupils per teacher,” he said.
The SUBEB Chairman also said the board had submitted its report and cost estimates to the Governor, and approval had been given.
“We are going to award the contracts either this week or next week. In the next one or two weeks, the contractors will mobilize to sites,” he added.
On human capital, Tambuwal said SUBEB is working with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to recruit more teachers.
He noted that Gov. Aliyu had earlier approved 3,000 teachers for higher education and the Teachers Service Board, and had now approved another recruitment for basic education.
He said Sokoto currently has 2,124 primary schools and 308 junior secondary schools, with a teacher population of about 24,000.
Speaking on insecurity, Tambuwal said while insurgency is a national issue, Gov. Aliyu has demonstrated commitment by spending N16 to N17 billion on security support including vehicles and armored vehicles.
“The Governor is not expected to carry a gun and fight terrorists. But all the support he is supposed to give, he gives it on a daily basis.
” I don’t think there is any Governor in Nigeria spending that much on security,” he said.
The SUBEB Chairman expressed optimism that with improved security, all closed schools would soon resume.
