Dr Jemila Dahiru, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Education, says the the state government will revive six boarding schools that were de-boarded due to low enrollment.
Dahiru stated this in Dambam Local Government Area of the state at the end of an inspection visit to the six schools on Sunday.
She explained that Gov. Bala Mohammed gave the directive to the ministry to strategically identify the schools so as to commence complete rehabilitation, renovation and construction of structures to ensure a conducive environment for the students.
This, she said, would be done through the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment, (AGILE), a World Bank assisted project of the Federal Ministry of Education geared towards improving secondary education opportunities in the country.
“We are here for an inspection visit, more of inspection for preparedness based on the approval of Gov. Bala Mohammed for the re-boarding of about six schools.
“We can say that the visit has been a successful one because in each of the schools we visited, we have been able to meet and engage with the community.
“We are aware of the condition of the schools and that was one of the reasons why the schools were actually de-boarded. In line with this, the governor has approved the rehabilitation and renovation of these schools through AGILE fund,” she said.
According to her, most of the schools visited already have the facilities that can be transformed and be utilised for effective use of the students that will be re-boarded.
Dahiru recalled that there were issues of low enrollment which was also part of the reasons why some schools in the state were de-boarded.
“But you can see from the enthusiasm of the community that they have learned from their lessons, because they are actually lagging and left behind.
“Now you can see how they are willing to mobilise and sensitise the community members so that they get their children enrolled. They even wrote to the ministry requesting for this to be done for them.
“Also, these schools are not only meant for the communities they are situated, we, from the ministry of education will ensure that we are posting students to these locations so that we will have more enrollment,” the commissioner assured.
In his vote of thanks, Mr Iliya Isa, Deputy Chairman, Dambam LGA, lauded Gov. Mohammed for listening to their yearnings and promised to mobilise members of the communities to scale-up enrollment.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the six schools include, Government Secondary School, Dagauda in Dambam LGA, Government Secondary School, Futuk, Alkaleri LGA, Government Day Secondary School, Kirfi LGA.
Others are, Government Secondary School, Sade, Darazo LGA, Government Secondary School, Udubo, Gamawa LGA and Government Secondary School, Madara in Katagum LGA. (NAN)
