Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau has urged beneficiaries of the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) to acquire skills to complement their formal education.

Mr Mutfwang gave the charge on Saturday in Gindiri during the commissioning of a block of classrooms, motorised borehole, perimeter fencing and distribution of learning materials at the Government Secondary School Bwalbwang, Gindiri.

AGILE is a World Bank-assisted project of the Federal Ministry of Education to improve secondary education for adolescent girls between 10 and 20 years.

While commending all stakeholders involved in the project, the governor reiterated the need for the students to go beyond formal learning and equip themselves with skills.

“Education is the foundation of any society and the key to unlocking the potential of our people.

”It is not enough to teach our students the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic; we must also equip them with the skills, knowledge, and values that will enable them to thrive in the 21st century.

“We are proud to unveil the newly constructed and renovated infrastructure that will enhance the learning environment of this school,” he said.

While also encouraging the judicious use of the facilities, Mr Mutfwang urged the students to be focused and driven towards all-round success in life.

“These infrastructures have been designed considering the students’ needs and interests. They will foster an interactive, engaging learning atmosphere where students can explore, create, and collaborate.

“They will also improve the health and hygiene of the school community and reduce the risk of waterborne diseases,” he said.

According to him, a conducive learning environment is essential for students’ holistic development, and those things that were commissioned are a step towards that direction.

“However, we are aware that these alone are not enough to address the challenges facing our education sector; we are saddened by the fact that many of our schools are still plagued by poor learning outcomes.

“Low enrollment, high dropout, and inadequate human and material resources; these are the symptoms of a learning and human capital crisis that threatens the future of our state and nation,” the governor said.

Similarly, Maina Shirinkpo, coordinator of AGILE in Plateau, stressed the importance of education and the determination of the group to ensure the sustainability of the education goal of the Sustainable Development Goals.

(NAN)