Zamfara bans non-indigenes from public schools
From Isah Ibrahim,
Gusau
FOR non-indigenes who are pupils in Zamfara State, the payment of compulsory fees is not the end of their educational burden.
They have now also been banned from public schools. The Zamfara State government recently introduced the policy that made the payment of school fees by non-indigenes compulsory.
A committee has already been set up by the state government to screen non-indigenes from among the candidates short-listed for admission into post-primary schools.
The state's Commissioner for Science and Technical Education, Alhaji Aliyu Muhammed Tukur disclosed this to reporters in Gusau yesterday.
He explained that the committee was charged with ensuring that only indigenes would be admitted into the state's schools before any other.
Tukur revealed that the idea was aimed at satisfying the educational needs of all eligible indigenes of the state.
His words: "We are not going to admit any non-indigene in our public schools. Until when we obtain a vacant number after admitting the indigenes, then we can afford to give them admission because we want to first satisfy the need and aspirations of our people."
The commissioner stated that there were 357 non-indigenous students studying in six science secondary schools. He added that his ministry would not entertain any part payment of school fees from any non-indigene at the resumption of schools.
He disclosed that plans were on by the state government to construct seven new science secondary schools.
Tukur maintained that already the state governor had approved the establishment of two science secondary schools in Gusau and Bakura. He disclosed that religious education won't be fully incorporated in the new science schools.
The commissioner further explained that plans were on by the state government to spend over N2 billion on science and technical education.
He said under the project, 20 blocks of classrooms would be constructed in each local government, adding that a contract would soon be awarded for the total rehabilitation of all schools' structures in the state.
Tukur also revealed that the ministry had recruited over 80 teachers who were posted to all science secondary schools of the state.
He thanked the Education Tax Fund (ETF) for renovating some schools and providing science and technical equipment.
Meanwhile, the Zamfara State government is to provide drinking water for 88 rural areas of the state before 2007.
The special adviser to the state governor on rural water supply, Major Lawal Bala Gusau (rtd) made this known yesterday while briefing journalists in Gusau. The project is expected to cost the government over N2 billion.
According to him, two rural areas were selected in each of the 44 Area Development Councils (ADC's) of the state for the construction of bore-holes in addition to the new earth dams to be constructed under the state rural water programme.
He said the new programme was expected to be launched next month, stressing that an interview had been conducted for the contractors and consultants to handle the project.
The special adviser described the state as being free of guinea worm, and attributed the development to the rehabilitation of the water schemes in guinea worm endemic areas.
Bala said: "As at 1999, Zamfara had a total of 3,141 cases of guinea worm, 2000 (702) representing 78 per cent reduction, 2001, (245) or 65 per cent, 2002, 56 cases or 78 per cent reduction and in 2003, only eight cases, 86 per cent reduction while as I am speaking with you today Zamfara has no guineaworm case."
He thanked the United Nations Children Educational Fund (UNICEF) for its contributions particularly in constructing ventilated and improved pit latrines with water points in six primary schools of the state and the provision of more water points and latrines in other four primary schools.
He said plans were on by the state government to construct motorised boreholes.
But on Wednesday while opening a two-day intensive workshop for elected local government functionaries, Governor Abdullahi Adamu of Nasarawa State asked them to live by the oath of their offices by treating all communities with justice.`
