NAN-H-119
Schools
By Kabir Muhammad
Abuja, Jan. 30, 2017 (NAN) In view of the importance of education to the society, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has established three more secondary schools in the territory.
The FCT is said to be facing challenges in the area of education, which includes inadequate schools due to the increase in population.
The available schools could no longer cater for the educational needs of people in the territory.
Education is said to be the best legacy any nation could bequeath to its citizens.
Malam Musa Maikasuwa, FCT Acting Education Secretary, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja, that the schools would cater for the education needs of over 5,000 pupils and students.
“We acknowledge that the challenge of provision of adequate infrastructure will always be there due to the increasing demand for educational services.
“A more pragmatic approach is the establishment of new schools,’’ he said.
Maikasuwa listed the schools as; Government Science and Technical College, Kwalli, Government Science Secondary School, Pyakassa which was moved to a new location in Maitama, and Government Day Secondary, Abaji.
According to Maikasuwa, Government Secondary School, Mpape has been moved to its permanent site.
Maikasuwa noted that the influx of people to the FCT had overstretched available facilities in some schools, especially in urban and semi-urban areas.
“This is especially true, considering that FCT now is the home of many Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from around the country.
“As a matter of fact, enrolment figures have increased in our schools.
“The UBEB recorded increase in pupils and students enrolment as Early Child Care Developmental Education (ECCDE) increased by 11.04 per cent.
“Primary school pupils enrolment increased from 214, 929, to 219, 101 representing 1.94 per cent,’’ he said.
Maikasuwa said that JSS students’ enrolment also increased by 11, 479, from 116,585 to 128,064, representing 9.85 per cent.
Speaking on some of the challenges facing the sector in the territory, the acting secretary said the challenges were enormous, considering the enormity of the secretariat’s mandate.
On encroachment into plots earmarked for schools by private developers, he said it had adversely affected the establishment of additional schools as well as the development of existing schools in some communities.
On funding, Maikasuwa said “it is no secret that the country has entered into one of the most challenging periods in her economic history. This has negatively affected the education sector’’.
According to him, another serious challenge is the difficult terrain of some rural communities in the territory which makes the areas difficult to access. (NAN)
KM/ORO/EEE
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Edited by Razak Owolabi/Ese E. Ekama