FEDERAL UNITY COLLEGES GET WORLD BANK USD 250,000 GRANT

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FEDERAL UNITY COLLEGES GET WORLD BANK USD 250,000 GRANT

7 July 2009

As part of strategies to reposition and strengthen the Federal Unity Colleges, otherwise known as Unity Schools, to make them conducive for learning, as well as serve as models to other schools, the Federal Government has secured $250,000  World Bank grant for each of the 104 Unity Schools for the upgrade of their science  laboratories and technical workshops.

The Honourable Minister of State for Education, Hajiya Aishatu Jibril Dukku, disclosed this in her address to declare open a one-day interactive forum on the implementation of School Based Management Committees (SBMCs) held for Principals of Federal Unity Colleges in Abuja.

While speaking on areas the grant will cover, which include the renovation or rehabilitation of laboratories/technical workshops, procurement of science and technical textbooks and other instructional materials, provision of power, water and toilet facilities, the Minister challenged the Principals to diligently follow conditions required to be able to access the funds.

The Minister, who used the occasion to dispel the rumours that government plans to sell the Unity schools, said that the adoption and implementation of School Based Management Committees (SBMCs) in the Unity Schools is aimed at resource sourcing and management for smooth and effective running of the schools.

"It has been established globally that no government can drive its education sector alone without partnering with the public sector.  It is on this premise that the cornerstone of the SBMCs lies on resource mobilization and efficient utilization," she emphasised.

The approval for the establishment of SBMCs in all schools was given at the 54th National Council on Education in 2007, as a body set up basically to assist in effective management of schools with the sole aim of improving quality and efficiency to enhance students' achievement.