Katsina Govt Invests ₦6.1bn to Upgrade 110 Public Schools Under TESS Project

The Governor of Katsina State, Dikko Umar Radda, has officially flagged off the second phase of School Improvement Grants worth over ₦6.1 billion aimed at upgrading 110 public schools across the state.

The intervention, implemented under the Transforming Education System for States (TESS) initiative, is part of the administration’s broader plan to improve learning conditions, strengthen basic education, and enhance access to quality schooling for children across Katsina State.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony held at the TESS Project Office in Katsina, Governor Radda described the programme as a major step toward building a modern, inclusive, and competitive education system capable of meeting global standards.

According to the state government, the total sum of ₦6,116,343,477 will be used for the construction of new classrooms, renovation of dilapidated school buildings, provision of gender-friendly sanitation facilities, and installation of safe drinking water systems in line with standards set by the Universal Basic Education Commission.

The governor reiterated that investment in education remains the foundation for sustainable development and long-term human capital growth in the state. He added that the goal of his administration is to ensure an education system that is inclusive, functional, accountable, and capable of preparing students for future opportunities.

As part of the event, Governor Radda also commissioned a newly built 500-capacity conference hall at the TESS Project Office. In addition, specialised learning materials and assistive devices were distributed to students at the School for the Blind in Katsina and the School for the Deaf in Malumfashi, reinforcing the state’s commitment to inclusive education.

The governor highlighted several achievements under the TESS programme, including the distribution of textbooks in Mathematics, English, and Computer Studies to primary school pupils, as well as digital tablets for teachers to support classroom instruction.

He further revealed that over 28,000 teachers have been trained in modern teaching techniques, classroom management, and structured pedagogy to improve learning outcomes across the state.

On school safety and monitoring, the administration has installed CCTV systems in 130 public schools and distributed motorcycles to monitoring and evaluation officers across the 34 Local Government Education Authorities to strengthen supervision, especially in rural communities.

Governor Radda also emphasized accountability, warning that all projects under the programme must be executed with transparency. A monitoring committee has been set up, comprising representatives from anti-corruption agencies, the State Project Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Team, the Katsina State Development Management Board, and the Office of the Head of Service.

According to him, the committee will ensure that all projects meet the required UBEC minimum standards and position the state to benefit from performance-based rewards from development partners, including the World Bank.

Speaking earlier, the State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Yusuf Suleiman Jibia, said the AGILE initiative is promoting inclusive education by providing learning support materials for students with special needs, describing basic education as the foundation of national development.

The Chairman of the Katsina State Universal Basic Education Board, Kabir Magaji, commended the administration’s achievements, stating that the reforms have restored public confidence among parents, teachers, and communities.

Also, the State Project Coordinator of the AGILE programme, Abubakar Abdulhamid, disclosed that over 104,000 girls have benefited from conditional cash transfer schemes designed to improve school enrolment and reduce dropout rates. He added that the programme has improved transition rates between primary and secondary education levels.

He further noted that 75 new secondary schools have been constructed under the project, with 65 already completed and handed over, alongside the renovation of more than 3,000 classrooms across the state.

On her part, TESS Project Coordinator Binta Abdulmumini stated that 75,000 textbooks have been distributed across key subjects, while an 18-seater vehicle has been procured to improve project coordination and monitoring activities.

The event was attended by top government officials, development partners, education stakeholders, and community leaders, according to a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ibrahim Mohammed.

The administration says these combined interventions are strengthening the public education system and improving learning outcomes across Katsina State.