Gombe State Government is to spend the sum of Three Hundred and thirty three million naira (N333, 000, 000) in the construction of 110 standard libraries in schools across the State.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya disclosed this at the commissioning of a newly built library at the Jekadafari Primary school, Gombe and the distribution of motorcycles, instructional materials and sports facilities to schools across the State.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, the Governor said his administration inherited huge challenges in the education sector with Gombe ranked 34th out of 36 states in the federation in external examinations.
This, the Governor explained, prompted his administration to immediately declare a State of emergency in the sector, particularly at the basic level in order to salvage it from total collapse.
“The establishment of Primary school library is yet another bold step in the right direction towards addressing the challenges inherent in basic education, the importance of a library as a foundation for pupils/ students’ self motivation cannot be over-emphasized as it will greatly enhance learning in schools across the State”.
“To this end and considering the importance of a library as the fastest growing means for for inducing self motivation in learning, the State Ministry of Education, through the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, will undertake the construction of 110 standard libraries across the State at the total cost of three hundred and thirty three million 333,000,000 in the first phase”.
The Governor directed Education Secretaries and head teachers in the State to include library period of at least 80 minutes per week on their school time table to enable students and pupils read on their own under the guidance of a trained librarian.
“Government has also noted with delight the prompt procurement of 31 additional motorcycles in order to enhance monitoring of Schools by quality Assurance Officers in all the eleven local government areas. Similarly the provision of instructional materials and sports equipment worth over 85 million naira to schools is highly commendable”.
Earlier speaking, the Commissioner of Education, Dauda Batari Zambuk said Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s interventionist policy in education sector is beyond imagination, describing it as one that will yield positive fruits and be remembered for many years to come.
The Executive Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, Hon. Babaji Babadidi said as part of measures to improve the education sector in the State, the administration of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has carried out sweeping reforms in the state especially at the basic level.
He said the commissioning ceremony is yet another bold step by the Inuwa Yahaya’s administration towards injecting new techniques that will guarantee the desired quality in education following the declaration of a State of emergency in the sector by the present administration.
