The Katsina state government says it has spent about N13.7 billion for the construction of 75 new junior and senior secondary schools in the state.

The deputy governor, Faruq Lawal-Jobe, disclosed this during a monthly press briefing held at the old Government House in Katsina on Friday.

According to Mr Lawal-Jobe, the project was under the first phase of the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE).

He explained that under the project, massive infrastructural developments were carried out in the area of construction of new schools, rehabilitation of existing ones.

There was also the procurement and distribution of teaching materials for an improved learning atmosphere.

He listed other interventions under the programme to include a special grant of N23 million for each of the 75 constructed schools, totaling N1,725 billion for renovation and repairs of toilets, sporting facilities, provision of potable water, landscaping, among other things.

“Ongoing construction of 77 new Junior and Senior Secondary Schools under (phase 2) at the cost of more than N36,883 billion,” the deputy governor said.

According to him, minor and medium repairs in 578 schools are being carried out, including the supply of water and construction of toilets at the cost of more than N21,880 billion.

He further revealed that a total of 45 existing junior and senior secondary schools were also identified for rehabilitation at the cost of N108 million, and N6.6 for procuring teaching materials.

“The learning materials include digital learning materials for 170 schools, digital literacy books for 200 schools, Solar, Inverter and Batteries for 170 schools.

“Others are 1,200 refuse containers for 600 secondary schools, a Toyota Corolla for project finance management, and also instructional materials to 170,000 students.

“Also distribution of teaching and learning materials to focus schools for effective implementation and empowering 60,000 girls with life skills,” Mr Lawal-Jobe said.

The deputy governor listed other expenditures carried out to include the special grants for renovation of 75 new constructed secondary schools, provision of conditional cash transfer to 104,111 girls across 255 secondary schools.

According to him, other projects included the renovation and expansion of existing school infrastructure, provision of WASH and games facilities to 578 secondary schools across the state.

“This laudable initiative has tremendously increased girls enrollment in our schools and improved their educational advancement.

“In the same vein, government, through the Department of Girl Child Education and Child Development, incurred an expenditure of more than N171 million.”

“This was in providing educational support and feeding for orphanages, as well as settling of counterpart funding for child protection and social behavioral change.

“The department also undertook a series of activities to improve the knowledge, skills and capacity of young girls to ensure child development and safety.

“It has also conducted sensitisation programmes on promoting girls education, hygiene, mentorship and literacy training, aimed at increasing girl’s knowledge,” he said.

Mr Lawal-Jobe further stated that the state government, in collaboration with UNICEF, conducted a back to school campaign for 1,393 Almajiris and vulnerable children in the state.

According to him, similar advocacy and sensitisation was also conducted for 6,120 children in 180 communities in six Local Government Areas.

“We have also successfully established a Girls Skills Acquisition Center in Katsina. Also 2,000 students were trained and empowered with practical life skills to enhance their sustainable growth and development,” he said.

 (NAN)