Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State has flagged off the construction of 75 junior and senior secondary schools across the 34 local government areas of the state.

The World Bank supported the initiative through the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) and the state government.

Speaking at the event in Katsina, the governor said this was the project’s first phase, adding another set of 75 schools would also be constructed later.

He added that his administration’s target was to construct 150 schools, comprising 90 junior and 60 senior secondary schools, to positively touch the lives and well-being of the state’s people.

“We rehabilitated and constructed many schools and provided learning materials aimed at providing conducive teaching and learning environment in the schools.

“We also recruited many qualified teachers, procured and distributed learning materials to schools and colleges in the state, in addition to the training of teachers,” he said.

Mr Masari further stated that other junior and senior secondary schools were provided to ensure access to qualitative education for children who used to travel long distances to attend school.

According to him, when completed, the project will assist in addressing the challenges of transition from primary school through junior secondary school to senior secondary school.

“Even before the AGILE project, the present administration has established 68 junior secondary schools within some existing primary schools, two from each of the 34 local government areas,” he said.

According to the governor, the AGILE project will actualise the plans, beginning with the flag-off of the project.

Earlier, the AGILE coordinator in the state, Mustapha Shehu, said the project was expected to be completed in December 2023.

Mr Shehu said the project came up after conducting a distance analysis to identify disadvantaged communities regarding providing learning materials.

(NAN)