Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has disbursed N50 million free instructional materials to primary and secondary school students across the 44 local government areas of the state.
In his address at the flag-off ceremony at the Coronation Hall, Government House, yesterday, Yusuf said the three pillars of his education agenda are to expand the system, to provide quality education, and to eliminate illiteracy.
Among the items distributed were 1.3 million textbooks of Mathematics, English, Science, and Social Studies; 670,000 exercise books; 7,000 Hite boards; 7,100 markers, and 15,000 bags.
Others are 15,000 pairs of sandals; 10,368 uniforms; 500,000 Special Education accessories, and 2,000 Android tablets.
The state governor called on the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the items, “as this is just the beginning of his efforts to eliminate illiteracy in the state.
“We are determined to mop up all out-of-school children and get them enrolled in schools. Our administration is providing uniforms, bags, books and others.”
The governor also announced a new education policy that has reopened all the girls’ boarding schools and renovated and constructed 130 new girls’ schools and 88 Islamic schools to enhance the girl-child education.
On the issue of teachers who have been working voluntarily under Better Education Service Delivery to All (BESDA), Yusuf promised to offer them automatic employment.
He stated that he had since instructed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and the Head of Service to ensure that within the next fortnight, they present him with a report on the screening exercise of the beneficiaries.
BESDA was in addition to the paid outstanding allowances of N450 million they were owed by the state government for the services they rendered in the past years.