The Katsina government has announced an expenditure of approximately N50 million for the construction of 20 Integrated Islamic School learning shades across the state.
Kabir Magaji, the head of the State Universal Basic Education Board, revealed this achievement on Thursday, highlighting it as part of 73 initiatives since he took office in August 2023. Each shade was built at a cost of N2.5 million.
In addition, Magaji stated that N14.7 million was allocated for the procurement and supply of First Aid supplies to IQSA centers. He noted that N15 million was spent on a results framework, data collection, analysis, and reporting, while N2.72 million went towards monthly allowances for 136 reporting teams involved in IQS spot checks.
The government also constructed staff quarters in remote areas to enhance teachers’ stability and promptness. Magaji reported an investment of about N120 million for solar inverters in 40 primary schools under the Transforming Education System initiative, along with N75 million for solar upgrades at the headquarters of 34 local government education areas (LGEAs) and the State Universal Basic Education Board.
Further expenditures included N25 million for 34 laptops for LGEA monitoring and evaluation officers, N3.5 million for computers for the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and board management, and N35 million for repairs of 35 grounded ICT centers in schools and LGEAs. The procurement of monitoring vehicles cost N50 million to enhance service delivery.
Magaji also disclosed that N812,000 was spent on the State EMIS meeting for the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic years, while N971.1 million was used for the construction of 67 blocks of two classrooms. The construction of three additional blocks, which included classrooms, offices, and storage facilities, cost over N50 million, and the rehabilitation of 68 blocks exceeded N770 million.
Additionally, 23 boreholes were installed in primary and junior secondary schools at a cost of N67.1 million, and N25 million was allocated for the supply of 20 sets of assorted furniture. Approximately N33 million was spent on printed primary school leaving certificates, with another N3.15 million for admission registers.
The procurement and distribution of schemes of work cost N75 million, and N30.2 million was dedicated to ECCDE textbooks.
The government has also recruited 5,095 permanent and pensionable primary school teachers and approved N4,030,000 to settle the arrears of monthly allowances for 74 casual staff.
