Governor Dikko Radda disburses over N4bn to 150 primary schools

Governor Malam Dikko Umar Radda of Katsina state, on Thursday, flagged-off the disbursement of N4.054,795,838 billion Improvement Grants to 150 selected primary schools across the state. The flag-off event took place at Shagumba Primary School in Batagarawa Local Government Area, as disclosed in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed.

Governor Radda clarified that the funds were disbursed as part of a program named “Transforming Education System at State Level (TESS).” The selection of beneficiary schools was based on specific criteria, including the extent of deterioration, the number of pupils in nearby communities, and the lack of water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities.

Under the program, the School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) are entrusted with the responsibility of managing and utilizing the funds. Governor Radda urged the committees to ensure the prudent use of the funds for their intended purposes.

Additionally, the governor issued a directive stating that any newly-recruited public school teacher in the state who declined the initial posting should resign to make way for others eagerly waiting for the opportunity.

Governor Radda instructed the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, SUBEB Education Secretaries, and Coordinators of Zonal Education Quality Assurance to intensify efforts in ensuring teachers attend their lessons promptly. He warned against any insubordination among teachers and staff, emphasizing that the government would not tolerate absenteeism without valid reasons.

Furthermore, Governor Radda called on education stakeholders, especially community members, to visit their respective schools and monitor lesson delivery and teacher attendance. He encouraged reporting any incidents of truancy or absenteeism by teachers.

Binta Abdulmumini, the Coordinator of TESS, highlighted that the program aims to bring back several out-of-school children in Katsina to the education system.