The Niger government is to spend N300 billion on revamping the state’s educational sector to meet up with extant global best practices.

Governor Umaru Bago disclosed this on Tuesday in Minna during the groundbreaking ceremony for the revitalisation of basic education infrastructure, with Marafa Basic School as the pilot scheme.

Mr Bago said arrangements had been concluded to expand schools and renovate them with N100 billion in 2025.

He added that an additional N100 billion would be provided for the remodelling and upgrading of schools to mega-schools.

The governor also explained that the state government, in line with its inclusive quality education for all, was committing N5 billion to expand and upgrade 25 existing nomadic schools and intervene in Quranic and Tsangaya schools.

Mr Bago added that N5 billion was set aside for children with special needs for the next five years.

He described education as a fundamental human right, adding, ” Every child deserves to have education.”

Mr Bago stated that the state has made education free and compulsory at the basic level.

The governor also disclosed that the government was providing one million computers and tablets for learning across all public schools in the state for the children to be in tandem with the current global practices.

Mr Bago said the new Niger Agenda was determined to provide succour to all the people of the state at all levels.

He, however, appreciated the Universal Basic Education Board’s collaboration and continued support of basic education.

Mr Bago said the state, through its agro initiative, had put a five per cent levy on all agro-allied produce for education, with an estimate of N200 billion to be collated.

In his remarks, the executive chairman, Niger Universal Basic Education Board, Muhammad Ibrahim, commended Mr Bago for his remarkable strides in the education sector through his new Niger agenda.

He added that the Marafa basic school, when revamped, would have 128 classrooms, five e-libraries and two basic science laboratories, among others.

The Commissioner for Basic Education, Asabe Hadiza-Mohammed, extolled the vision of the governor towards the education sector.

(NAN)