3,000 deprived children targeted as Zulum unveils 2 mega schools in Borno

 

Borno State Government says 3,000 children, mostly from underprivileged families, are being enrolled in two new mega schools built and commissioned by the administration of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum.

The schools, each standing on three floors, were built at Ajilari Cross in Jere, and Abuja-Sheraton in Maisandari ward of Maiduguri metropolitan council, both low-income communities in which many school-aged children are out of school, according to a statement published on the governor’s Facebook page on Monday.

“Each of the schools has 30 classrooms with each class to accommodate between 40 to 50 pupils at the maximum, meaning about 3,000 pupils in 60 classrooms. The schools have been equipped with desks and chairs while pupils already admitted were provided free uniforms.

“Forty-eight (48) teaching and non-teaching staff who include the head-teachers are to serve both schools at equal ratio,” the statement stated.

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Construction work on the two schools were started and completed by the 17-month-old Zulum’s administration.

“Government is handing over the school to the community and the community is expected to run the school through a Committee within the community, while government will pay teachers’ salary through the Education Trust Fund on monthly basis by way of grants to the School. In addition to this, Government is determined to maintain and sustain the school in close collaboration with community efforts in ways that will serve generations,” Zulum announced during a short ceremony that was attended by Borno’s deputy governor, other officials and members of both communities.

At Ajilari Zulum ordered the construction of two deep aquifer boreholes to serve community members around the Mega school there.

Zulum had recently approved the recruitment of over 700 teachers for secondary schools and promised employing hundreds for primary schools when ongoing verification and standardisation of teachers is completed.