Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno State has outlined a multifaceted plan to rejuvenate the education sector, which includes building teachers’ quarters and renovating dilapidated schools.
Zulum, rolled out the plan at a high-level meeting with key stakeholders in the education sector to review current challenges and outline fresh directives for improving learning outcomes, infrastructure, and coordination across the state.
The governor emphasised the need for synergy among education agencies to ensure effective service delivery, noting that collaboration was key to addressing the sector’s challenges.
Zulum ordered the establishment of additional High Islamic Colleges in selected local government areas.
The colleges, he said, would integrate traditional Islamic studies with literacy, numeracy, modern sciences, and vocational training.
According to him, the initiative is aimed at mainstreaming the non-formal education sector into the formal system, targeting Almajiri pupils and providing a second chance for out-of-school children who have exceeded the official enrolment age.
The governor also directed the establishment of state libraries in Biu, southern Borno, and Monguno, in the northern part of the state, in addition to the upgraded Maiduguri library.
“Deliberately, I upgraded the Maiduguri library, with the aim of establishing another one in Biu and one in Monguno in order to promote reading culture, which is fast eroding.
“ I want you to rejuvenate the reading culture by ensuring the library is effective. But most importantly, apart from the physical books, let’s put a mechanism for e-books in place,” Zulum said.
