(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Minister-of-Education-Professor-Ruqayyatu-Ahmed-Rufa'i-making-her-presentation-at-Ministerial-Platform-2013.-300x200.jpg) The Minister of Education, Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa'i has said that the implementation of the four-year strategic plan for the development of the education sector from 2011-2015 is on course with credible progress made in six focal areas outlined in the plan.
Ruqayyatu Ahmed made this indication during her address at a two-day workshop for mid-term review of the four-year plan in its six focal areas held on August 12, 2013 in Abuja. She added that the mid-term review meeting was imperative to examine progress, challenges and necessary adjustments to meet the set goals.
Highlighting the achievements made so far, the Minister disclosed that the ministry in several cases has been putting up and building solid foundations for the future with regards to the challenges that the country is presently tackling. She further said aside from strengthening institutional framework in the system, a number of steps have been taken to increase access to education. These according to her includes: the construction of 125 boarding and day schools for Almajaris; the launch of the Access Campaigns in the North and the South East geo-political zones to address peculiar enrolment challenges; the establishment of 12 New Federal Universities, nine of which have started academic activities among others.
The Education Minister who described this administration's commitment to ensuring delivery of quality education delivery as total, also inferred that over 200 blocks of classrooms were constructed across 29 States of federation in 2002; adding that over N19.7 million materials have been provided in the key subject areas of basic education across the country in the past two years to support teaching and learning processes.
"At the tertiary education level, there has been a boom on infrastructural transformation. In each of the institution, all areas of infrastructural challenge are being addressed through the provision of new facilities as well as rehabilitation of existing ones", she explained. The minister cited instances from the first to the fifth phase of the High Impact Initiative of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund where over N109 billion has been provided to Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education to enhance their facilities, saying it was purposed to encourage their growth to the status of centres of excellence.
Mentioning other initiatives aimed at promoting quality in higher education, the minister identified the 'Book Development Fund' and noted that N3 billion has been dedicated to it to encourage scholarship in Nigerian higher institutions through the production of books and journals. "It was in resolve to address all the challenges facing the sector that the needs assessment of all the areas in the education sector was carried out. We have done this for the Federal Unity Schools and it is helping in their transformation. The recent one carried out for all public universities has led to a presidential intervention to ensure that challenges identified are given due attention.
As a result, N100 billion has been committed to this and Mr. President has inaugurated an implementation committee under the headship of the Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswan", the Minister stressed. Ruqayyatu reaffirmed government's commitment to moving the sector forward, indicating that the minister will persist in identifying further challenges and addressing them. She appealed to stakeholders to show understanding, support and partner with the initiative for a better tomorrow.
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Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria