Zulum’s Education Drive: 2 Schools Inaugurated, College Flagged Off

By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has inaugurated two newly constructed Government Secondary Schools (GSSs) in Fikiyel and Balbaya, Bayo Local Government Area, as part of efforts to improve education in the state.

The governor also flagged off the construction of a new High Islamic College in Fikiyel, designed to integrate out-of-school children, particularly Almajirai, into a formal and modern educational system.

Speaking during the brief ceremony, Governor Zulum said the High Islamic College would run a hybrid curriculum based on the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS), combining core Islamic education with contemporary science, technology, and humanities.

“It is our sincere hope that the people of Fikayel will benefit from this school because we are targeting the enrollment of out-of-school children into this school so that learners can learn Arabic, and then we shall streamline the non-formal educational (Sangaya System) into the formal educational system by introducing intensive literacy, intensive numeracy, digital literacy, and above all, vocational training,” Zulum said.

Briefing the governor, the Commissioner for Education, Engr Lawan Abba Wakilbe, stated that High Islamic Colleges were already built in 20 local government areas of the state.

In a related development, Prof. Zulum has directed the State Ministry of Education to complete the digitalisation of all public secondary schools across the state.

The directive is for the integration of digital tools, e-learning platforms, and smart classroom technologies with a view to enhancing teaching and learning outcomes.

The two newly inaugurated secondary schools, Fikiyel and Balbaya, are located in Bayo Local Government Area. They comprise 20 modern classrooms, laboratories, a library, and sporting facilities each.

Governor Zulum was assisted by the senator representing Southern Borno, Mohammed Ali Ndume; APC state chairman, Bello Ayuba; House of Representatives member, Engr Bukar Talba; the Commissioner for Education, Engr Lawan, Abba Wakilbe;

The Commissioner for Works, Engr Mustapha Gubio; the Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, President Usman Tar; Commissioner for Local Government and Emirates Affairs, Sugun Mai Mele, and other senior officials of the Borno State Government.

The development is seen as a positive step towards improving education in Borno State, with the digitalisation of secondary schools expected to enhance teaching and learning outcomes.