World Bank to renovate 614 schools, targets 38,000 Kano girls with stipends

The World Bank, through its supported project, ‘Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), has announced plans to renovate 614 public secondary schools in Kano State.

The project which would be implemented by the Schools-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) of the benefiting schools has budgeted N1.8 billion so far.

The Deputy Project Coordinator of the programme, Nasiru Abdullahi, stated this during a courtesy visit to the Emir of Bichi, Nasiru Bayero, alongside other members of the project on Thursday in Bichi, Kano State.

“The SBMC committee has community and religious leaders, representation from self-help organization, and students, among others.

“The Principal is the secretary of the committee who knows the problems of the school better,” Abdullahi said.

He stated that the funds had already been credited into the bank accounts of the Schools-Based Management Committees, SBMCs, of the participating schools in the State.

According to him, the SBMCs members had been trained on the key priorities of their schools for the attainment of the desired objective.

The deputy project coordinator noted that each school received an amount of money based on the nature of project it will undertake.

“Close to N1.8 billion has been granted to the schools, which is half of what the schools will get, in order to ensure effective utilisation of the funds.

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“Any school that finished its project will get the balance for the remaining project.

“The money is in the account of each of the benefiting schools. A school will come to AGILE to get clearance, which it will take to bank and withdraw the money,” he said

Abdullahi further revealed that the project was targeting close to 38,000 girls from vulnerable households for Conditional Cash Transfer which will be followed by training on digital skills.

He said the girls would be trained on skills that would assist them to become self-reliant in their marital homes.

He, therefore, solicited the support of the traditional ruler for the success of the project.

On his part, the Emir vowed to support the project wholeheartedly and urged all other relevant stakeholders to intensify efforts in improving the capacity of teachers.

“We are not saying construction is not good, but the teachers who will impart the knowledge to the students need to be improved.

“More teachers should also be recruited, and trained regularly to acquaint them with modern teaching techniques,” he advised.

Bayero, however, called on parents to desist from withdrawing girls from schools for marriage, counselling that girls should proceed to higher education after secondary schools.

The Star