3,000 children, mostly from underprivileged families, are being enrolled in two mega schools built and commissioned by Borno Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum on Monday.
The elegant three-story designed schools were built at Ajilari Cross in Jere, and Abuja-Sheraton in Maisandari ward of Maiduguri metropolitan council, both low-income communities in which many school-aged children are out of school.
Each of the schools has 30 classrooms with each to accommodate between 40 to 50 pupils at the maximum, meaning about 3,000 pupils in 60 classrooms. The schools have been equipped with desks and chairs while pupils already admitted were provided free uniforms.
48 teaching and non-teaching staff who include the head-teachers are to serve both schools at equal ratio. The schools both have spaces for future expansion.
Both of schools were started and completed by 17 month old Zulum’s administration.
“Government is handing over the school to the community and the community is expected to run the school through a committee within the community, while Government will pay teachers salary through the Education Trust Fund on monthly basis by way of grants to the school. In addition to this, Government is determined to maintain and sustain the school in close collaboration with community efforts in ways that will serve generations” Zulum announced during a short ceremony that was attended by Borno’s Deputy Governor, other officials and members of both communities.
At Ajilari Mega school, Zulum ordered the construction of new deep aquifer boreholes.
Zulum had recently approved the recruitment of over 700 teachers for secondary schools and promised employing hundreds for primary schools when ongoing verification and standardization of teachers is completed. The Governor’s continued employment aims to ensure all schools are sufficiently provided.
… Opens new road, to dualize another
After the two schools, Governor Zulum same Monday, commissioned a newly constructed road and network of drainage at Moromoro community.
Zulum announced the dualization of 10km Customs-Muna road, a commercial route along Maiduguri-Maga Dikwa road. He said the project will be executed at a cost of N5bn, to begin in the next 15 days. The dualized road will connect to Borno’s first flyover which is actively being constructed by a Chinese firm around the Customs roundabout that had been congested for many years.
