FG begins construction of model schools in geopolitical zones

THE Federal Government has commenced construction of six model schools in each of the geopolitical zones and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Minister of State for Education, Mr Emeka Nwajiuba, said the model schools to be established through the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) would serve as positive indicators of the future of basic education in Nigeria.

Nwajiuba spoke during the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the North-East zonal model school sited in Bauchi, Bauchi State.

Public Relations Officer of UBEC, Mr Ossom Ossom, who confirmed this development, said the ground-breaking ceremony signaled the commencement of efforts by the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Education and UBEC in stepping up interventions geared towards providing model UBE infrastructure in the six geopolitical zones and the FCT.

He noted that the minister, with the governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, performed the ground-breaking ceremony which attracted major stakeholders in the education sector.

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Speaking at the occasion, UBEC executive secretary, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, noted that the UBEC model schools were to serve as centres of excellence in Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-based teaching and learning as well as provide a benchmark for excellence so that states and FCT could replicate it.

He informed the gathering that seven zonal models would be constructed in Bauchi (North-East), Katsina (North-West), Nasarawa (North-Central), Lagos (South-West), Imo (South-East), Edo (South-South) and in Abuja, FCT.

He further hinted that as part of interventions in this regard, state model schools would be established in Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Kaduna, Kano, Niger, Oyo and Sokoto states.

The model schools would consist of pre-primary, special needs, primary and junior secondary sections.

Other components of the proposed schools include special needs classrooms, audio-visual rooms, science laboratories, vocational workshops, libraries, multi-purpose training centre, staff room, offices, clinics, playground, toilets, assembly ground and cafeteria all equipped with state-of-the-art ICT devices.