The Borno state Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum has announced the recruitment of 3,000 qualified teachers that will be deployed to various schools to boost the education sector before the end of the year.
He disclosed this during the commissioning of five primary and secondary schools carried out by the Borno State Education Trust Fund, created by the administration.
The Governor further disclosed that the rehabilitation works were carried out to transform existing structures in the five schools while new classrooms were constructed.
Information had since revealed that more than 5000 school buildings were destroyed by Boko Haram in primary, secondary and tertiary schools in different parts of Borno State since 2009.
This is according to the 2016 report co-authored by the World Bank, European Union, Nigeria’s Federal Government and governments of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States which make up the northeast where the insurgents have been operating.
Zulum has, since 2019, constructed number of Mega-sized secondary schools, constructed new primary schools and rehabilitated many, which are being commissioned in phases.
At the latest, schools located at Mashamari, Customs, Maimalari Barracks, Arabic Teachers College and Goni Damgari schools within Maiduguri and Jere Local Government Areas were commissioned by Governor Zulum to meet the educational needs of growing population in the state capital due to influx of internally displaced persons from more than 20 Local Government Areas for north, south and central Borno.
According to Zulum, “these projects which are made up of newly constructed classes and the remodeled ones are all situated within the metropolis which is home to a large percentage of our IDPs, thereby, providing them with opportunities to ensure their wards attend schools. We believe that education remains the bedrock for the development of any society. It is for same reason that the bulk of this year’s budget was allocated to the education sector.”
He explained that the Trust Fund is providing instructional materials and equipment, academic staff training and development as well as facilitating research and publication in schools and educational institutions across Borno State.
The Governor promised government’s determination to sustain aggressive drive on education and to maintain school facilities.
In her welcome address, chairperson of the trust fund, Hauwa Biu, expressed gratitude to Governor Zulum for giving her team opportunity to serve Borno. She assured of their sustained commitment towards enhancing the quality of education in the state.
Executive Secretary, Borno State Education Trust Fund, Maina Yaumi highlighted the activities of the board in the last one year. These include: the rehabilitation, development and consolidation of education at all levels in the state with emphasis on the provision and maintenance of essential physical infrastructure for teaching and learning.