Kaduna Government Allocates N116 Million for Ebola Detecting Equipment in Schools

Kaduna, Sept. 9, 2014 (NAN) Kaduna State Government on Tuesday said it had released N116 million

for the purchase of  Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) detecting equipment in  public schools.

The Commissioner for Education in the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Ali, said this at the flag-off of training for 13,000 teachers on prevention of EVD ahead of the Sept. 22, resumption date for primary and post primary schools.

Ali, who stressed the need for preventive measures against the spread of the disease, urged participants to ensure strict compliance amongst staff and students on good hygiene.

He said N41 million was earmarked for the training, refreshment and transportation of the teachers, while N75 million was for the purchase of thermometers.

“We are training about 13,000 teachers across the three senatorial zones. Forty one million Naira has been earmarked for the training, refreshment, and transportation of teachers, while N75 million is for the purchase of equipment from the Federal Ministry of Health.

“And we are purchasing 10,000 to give two to each school, and in the event where a school has more than 1,000 students, it is at a liberty to have more.

The commissioner said the state government would provide more fund to the education sector, disclosing that the state emerged third nationwide in the 2014 WAEC results.

“We expect to double the money we spend on teachers’ professional development. The magic is for one to train and retrain teachers every year so that they can be up-to-date.

“No matter how you put the structures in the schools, if you don’t have the teaching materials, text books and embark on regular training for teachers, you are not going to record any success.

“So, we are giving priority to the training of teachers so that they can impact more on students’ performance.’’