Taraba State Government says it has renovated over two thousand primary schools across the state.
This was made known to newsmen by the state Commissioner of Education, Mr. Johannes Jigem in Jalingo.
He said besides the renovation, over nine thousand pieces of furniture were provided across schools in the state.
The Commissioner revealed that the state government had also presented a grant to all the schools for minor repairs, as well as supplied mattresses among other teaching and learning materials in the state.
He informed that the state government had sponsored students for skills acquisition training at Peter Akinola Foundation in Ogun state, and provided starter items to them after graduating.
He added that the state government provided an office complex for WAEC and donated car to improve their services in the state.
Johannes Jigem explained that recently , the ministry had established a well-equiped ICT center in the ministry, adding that the state government in partnership with the World Bank also established the largest ICT center at Gembu, Sardauna LGA of the state.
“Another great achievement by this administration is that the state-sponsored students who participated in the Presidential National Debate championship in Abuja where they clinched 2nd position in 2016, this is part of sports, apart from other sporting activities like DDI inter-schools competition, etc. And look at the road construction across the state.” Jigem added.
On the just concluded common entrance that the state government paid for primary school pupils, the Commissioner expressed dismay over the low turnout of the pupils for the registration after spending a huge amount of money and urged parents to rise to their responsibilities as well as appreciate the efforts of the administration.
On capacity building, Mr.Jigem stated that every three months, the ministry organizes a workshop for teachers, adding that they are also doing the same for Principals and stakeholders in the education sector of the state.
He, announced that Governor Darius Ishaku will before the end of his administration, have an interface with the teachers to celebrate with them in the state.
Johannes Jigem urged stakeholders to complement government’s efforts in ensuring the maintenance of infrastructures and facilities in the schools.
The Commissioner who attributed the success story to the political will of Governor Darius Ishaku appealed to the incoming administration to build from where he stopped for the development of the state.
“I’m happy that we have decided not to politicize the offices of our Directors. We have made it a policy that you must be a Deputy Director in a particular directorate in the ministry, and then you will be given a Director. You can’t come from outside to seat under somebody who has been laboring, that was part of what was affecting the ministry. Because these offices are not political,” Jigem disclosed.
Sani Sulaiman