Obaseki to renovate schools with N6bn

The Edo State Government has set aside N6 billion for the renovation of public primary schools across the state within six months.

Governor Godwin Obaseki disclosed this in Benin yesterday during the graduation ceremony of 7,000 digital teachers under the EdoBEST Programme.

The governor schools would be said the equipped with essential tools for learning.

According to him, N3 billion will be sourced from the Paris Fund Refund; while the state government will provide the balance of N3 billion for the schools’ renovation project.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has mandated that N3 billion from the Paris Club Refund should be used to refurbish primary schools in Edo State. We commend the president for the gesture and we will ensure that we provide desks, chairs, teaching aids and renovate all our classrooms,” he said.

He said more teachers would be hired; while those yet to be trained on the digital teaching method would be exposed to the training which would be extended to public secondary schools soon.

“The state government is fully committed to basic education, after the pilot scheme last term, I hosted teachers and was told about the remarkable improvement. I did not believe until I got feedback from parents. We have to make some fundamental changes. I believe more times should be given to the students to learn in school.

“They say Governor Obaseki does not like spending money, but how can I waste money that can be spent to train our teachers so that they can better train our children. Edo citizens should support Edo-BEST in the interest in our children.” he said.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Education, Emmanuel Agbale, said the teachers were drawn from 612 public primary schools in the state.

He said the training would enable the teachers function optimally in an ICT teaching environment and make learning interesting to pupils.

He said over 150, 000 pupils were already benefiting from the Edo-BEST digital programme.