Primary school enrolment in Kaduna hits 2.1 million, says El Rufai

Despite the unrest in some parts of the north, the campaign for the education of the Nigerian child seemed to be yielding results as Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state announced an increase in primary education enrolment in the state from one million in 2015 to 2.1million as at January 2017.

El Rufai who disclosed this during a visit to the executive secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Hamid Bobboyi in his office attributed this to government’s free UBE policy and renewed drive to provide improved learning facilities in the State.

According to him, “From the one million figure recorded in 2015, total primary school enrolment in Kaduna State now stands at 2.1 million.

The governor who was accompanied by the state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Andrew Nok, listed his administration’s achievements in the sector to include allocation of 35 percent of the state’s budget to education; renovation of 608 out of 4,200 primary schools in the State, the plan to maximize the use of available school space by constructing multi-storey structures in existing schools, establishment of model schools and other interventions towards improving basic education especially the improvement of teacher quality.

Besides, he added that efforts are being made to replace obsolete equipment and teaching methods from the school system and replace them with contemporary practices.

In his response, Dr Bobboyi commended the governor for his efforts in ensuring increased access to basic education and improved infrastructure.

While pledging the support of the commission to the state, the executive secretary urged the governor not to relent in his bid to provide qualitative education for his people.