The Nation Newspaper

Tag: boarding schools

  • Katsina to employ 1,000 security guards for boarding schools – Masari

    THE Katsina State Government has approved the employment of 1,000 security guards for all boarding secondary schools to secure lives and property of students, Governor Aminu Masari said yesterday.

    Masari, speaking during the Third Convocation of the Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina said the decision was on the strength of the prevailing security situation in the country.

    “Even though Katsina is considered as one of the most peaceful states in the country, the government is not taking chances to allow students to be vulnerable to attacks by criminals,” he said, pointing out government is committed to protection of lives and property of the state’s citizens as well as the students.

    The governor recalled that when he assumed office in 2015, he made it clear that his mission was to recover the lost glory of the state in education and agriculture.

    He said his administration equipped existing schools, building new ones, increase the number of enrolment, recruiting qualified teachers and retraining of manpower to make the sector attractive.

    “‘We believe that a learned society that is attune to the demand of its time is a more successful one, that is why we continuously commit a huge percentage of the state budget to the education sector,’’ he said.

    Masari said  the state government from January 2018 to date, had awarded contracts for the rehabilitation and upgrading of Government Technical College Mashi at the cost of N277 million.

    He added that the government was spending N27.5 million to upgrade Government Day Secondary School, Yanduna in Baure Local Government Area.

    ‘‘The government also awarded the upgrading of Government Girls Boarding Secondary School, Rogogo in Zango Local Government at N263.1 million and the rehabilitation and upgrading of Government Girls Secondary School, Sandamu at N278.8 million.

    ‘‘The government also awarded the contract for the rehabilitation of Government Day Secondary School, Tama in Bindawa at N90.1 million,’’ he said.

    The governor revealed that the government was doing everything possible to improve the standard of its owned-tertiary institutions.

    Masari stated that his administration recently approved the recruitment of academic and non-academic staff for the Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic, Katsina, and Isa Kaita College of Education, Dutsin-ma.

    The governor urged the management of the university to boost its internally-generated revenue through collaboration with the private sector and corporate bodies that support its course.

    ‘‘While this administration implores this institution to take alternative sources of revenue seriously, it is committed to provide the support to enhance its service delivery.’’

    He said the government would continue to release funds to cater for the running cost, such as staff training and development of the university.

    A total of 1, 397 students graduated from the university, out of which 1,290 bagged first degrees while 107 got their post-graduate degrees.

     

  • Borno orders closure of public boarding schools

    AS part of measures to enhance security in schools, the Borno Government yesterday ordered the immediate closure of public boarding secondary schools in the Northeastern state.

    The Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information & Culture, Dr. Muhammad Bulama, who announced the measure in a statement in Maiduguri, said the decision was taken at the end of an expanded Security Council meeting of security agencies, government and traditional leaders on March 15.

    The statement reads: “All boarding secondary schools in the state with the exception of those in Maiduguri and Biu will, until further notice, be closed with immediate effect.

    “Sequel to the unfortunate recent attack on Rann town in Kala-Balge Local Government Council by Boko Haram, urgent and immediate measures will be taken jointly by the Borno Government, the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies to forestall future occurrences there and in other vulnerable communities.

    “Elaborate security, infrastructure, personnel and logistics arrangements will be put in place preparatory to the imminent return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to Bama, Gwoza and Dikwa local government areas and the subsequent return of their Royal Highnesses to their respective domains.

    “To speedily establish structures of civil authority, local government councils, para-military agencies, the judiciary and traditional institutions, as pre-requisite to relocating IDPs to their places of origin.”

    The commissioner disclosed that the council had approved the re-opening of Maiduguri-Bama-Banki Road for public and commercial purposes.

    According to him, the road would be reopened on Friday March 24.

    He added that the council also called for improved synergy between the military, other security agencies and community leaders to enhance intelligence gathering.

    “The Nigerian Armed Forces are implored to encourage senior military officers in command positions to closely liaise and synergise with traditional rulers in their areas of operation and also endeavour to regularly attend the meetings of the security committees at local government levels,” Bulama said.

    The commissioner warned that Boko Haram collaborators would be dealt with in accordance with the laws of the land.

    He announced that effective measures have been put in place to check the menace of illicit drug abuse, warning that drug peddlers would face the wrath of the law.

    The commissioner said: “All stakeholders will be mobilise and sensitise to squarely address the problem. The State Drug Abuse Committee will be reactivated and reconstituted without delay.

    “Intensive and sustained media campaign against the dangers of illicit drug peddling and illegal consumption will be mounted.

    “All premises where the illegal consumption of alcohol, illicit drugs, substances and other vices detrimental to the moral wellbeing and security of society take place, especially in the Galadima area of Maiduguri metropolis will be closed immediately.”

  • ‘Wike committed to 3,000 boarding schools promise’

    CHAIRMAN, Rivers State Post-Primary School Board, Chief David Briggs, says the Rivers State Governor, Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike is committed to delivering the 3,000 boarding schools he promised to Rivers people before the end of his tenure in office.

    He said this while handing over keys to a newly built 18-classroom block completed by Wike at Birabi Memorial Grammar School in Ogoni,  Khana Local Government Area of the state.

    Briggs, who thanked the contractor, Mr Monday Ugbo, for delivering the job on time, said the facilities required in the classroom blocks and the two hostels would be delivered in four months.

    He noted that the progress made so far was a sign of the governor’s commitment to people-oriented projects.

    He however called on the Ogoni people to support the governor’s programmes and policies.

    Briggs said: “Today, we are not inaugurating the school. It is a handover ceremony. By the time the hostels are ready the governor will come here and inaugurate the project. These classroom blocks are one of the 3,000 boarding schools for secondary schools.

    “I want to thank my board members. I want to thank the political leaders in the area for ensuring that the contractor delivered on time. We are representing the governor in this capacity; therefore, it is our responsibility to inform the governor that the job has been completed.

    “The job was done and delivered in record time.  The two hostels will accommodate 600 students.”

     

  • Bring back boarding schools

    The concern expressed by the President Muhammadu Buhari on the need to promote science and technical education while presenting the 2016 national budget brought joy, hope, and happiness to the heart of Nigerians.

    Many stakeholders in the education industry believe that to solve the problem of falling standard in the sector, the search light should be beamed on both primary and secondary schools.

    It is no longer news that the standard of education and the quality of graduates in the country has nosedived in the past 30 years. It is also common knowledge that anti-social activities among young adults have escalated at the dawn of this century.

    One major aspect of early education in Nigeria as organised by the missionaries and colonialists was the provision of boarding houses for pupils and teachers in public schools.

    This practice encouraged and promoted hard work and dedication to duty among the academic and non academic staff. It also promotes discipline, sportsmanship, and competitive spirit among the youngster of school age. Living in the boarding house saves the school children from the over indulgence and pampering most of them receive from their homes.

    The free meal programme of the APC-led federal government will be easily implemented when our schools are equipped with boarding houses and hostels. We need to amplify the effort of interventionist agencies like Central Bank Nigeria, Education Trust Fund etc.

    The successes recorded by federal government with the establishment of Federal Government Colleges also known as unity schools is quite encouraging and inspiring  Although it looks elitist, and expensive, such schools should be provided in many more cities and rural areas across the country.

    • By Dickson Ogbodo

    Agbani Town,

    Enugu State.