The Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has revealed that the State has recently recorded a very significant increase in pupil enrolment in public primary schools owing to government’s free UBE policy and renewed drive to provide improved learning facilities in the State. From the 1 million figure recorded in 2015, total primary school enrolment in Kaduna State now stands at 2.1 million. This was one of the various achievements listed by the Governor during his courtesy call on the Executive Secretary of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, in his office in Abuja on Thursday, April 13, 2017.
Mallam El-Rufai, together with the Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Andrew Nok, highlighted other land-mark achievements of the his administration to include the allocation of 35% of the State’s budget to the education sector, renovation of six hundred and eight (608) out of the total of the total of four thousand two hundred (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 across the State and other interventions towards improving basic education especially the improvement of teacher quality. The Governor also used the opportunity to inform the Executive Secretary of efforts being made to gradually replace obsolete equipment and methods from the school system and replacing them with contemporary practices. Mallam El-Rufai indicated that sooner than later schools in Kaduna State will have white boards instead of the usual blackboard.
In his response, the Executive Secretary, noted with delight the giant strides recorded in UBE delivery in the State particularly increased access to basic education, systematic approach to improving school infrastructure and the State’s commitment to quality UBE service delivery. He urged the Government to continue to exemplify leadership in this direction as Kaduna is known to be the regional capital not only in politics but also in other human endeavors. He pledged UBEC’s continued support to the State within its operational mandates and commended the Governor for taking out time to visit UBEC. Governor El-Rufai was accompanied on the visit by a few Kaduna State Government functionaries while members of UBEC Management were on hand to receive the Governor.
