NGO donates classroom to boost school enrolment in Kaduna
NAN-H-136
Classroom
By Mohammad Tijjani
Kaduna, Feb. 23, 2017 (NAN) Salaam Health Ministries and Gospel Crusade Outreach (SHMGCO), an NGO, has donated a classroom block to Unguwan Fada community in Kujama, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State to boost enrolment of children in school.
Coordinator of the NGO, Mrs Saidi Muhammad, said while handing over the classrooms on Thursday that the donation was to inspire children to begin the journey to explore horizons beyond their own.
According to her, the current policy of free and compulsory education initiated by Gov. Nasir el-Rufai, is a welcome development.
“SHMGCO is ready to work closely to support communities through educational aids.
“It is our hope that this would stimulate and encourage school enrolment of pupils in the communities,” she said.
“It is heart-warming to note that the problem of shortage of classroom demand in this community will be reduced as the newly built classroom block is made available for usage.
“Education remains the most veritable tool to develop and transform the child for a brighter future and enhance sustainable development of the communities,” she said.
The coordinator appealed to the state government to fully furnish and utilise the classrooms for the benefit of the community.
“We also appeal to government to consider and build a Secondary School within the communities to ease and encourage pupils attendance to school. ” Muhammad said
Earlier, the village head of Kujama, Mr Anthony Samariu, said his community is ever ready to provide land for any meaningful project including school, health or skill acquisition centres.
According to him, the community is also ready to provide accommodation to all personnel posted to the area.
The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Andrew Nok, who received the donated classroom block on behalf of the State Government, commended the NGO for its support.
He said that the administration has placed priority on education, adding that 35 per cent of the state budget for 2016 and 2017 went to education.
Nok assured that the government would build another classroom for the community and furnish existing ones.
“We are also going to renovate the old blocks of the classroom also provide water toilet and borehole for good access water for the pupils,” he added.
The commissioner urged the community leaders to devise means of protecting the facility to serve them for long.
NAN reports that work on the new classroom block was started by the NGO on January 19, 2017. (NAN)
TJ/MZA
======
Edited by Maharazu Ahmed