National assembly to take steps to increase education sector funding

Following the massive infrastructural deficit in the nation’s education sector, the national assembly house committee on basic education on Thursday said it would consider new legislation to increase the funding for the sector.

Istifanus Gyang, representing Barikin Ladi/Riyom federal constituency, Plateau, stated this after conducting an on-the-spot assessment of some schools in the state.

Gyang said the committee visited many schools in different parts of the country and came face to face with the massive infrastructural deficit, particularly at the basic level.

He added that the federal government has to find a way to increase its funding support, particularly to basic education.

“We have been to other states, and now we are concluding our working visit in Kaduna, and the story is the same everywhere; inadequate infrastructure, shortage of teachers,” he said.

“Kaduna State for example needs about N93 billion to bridge the infrastructural deficit in basic education alone.

“We have gone round and we have seen some schools where students sit on bare floor because there are no chairs, including secondary schools.

“We have made our recommendations to the state governments and the Universal Basic Education Boards where necessary on what needs to be done and how.

“This is because something must be done to address the challenge of ensuring quality education at basic level, otherwise our children will have no future.”

He said Kano, Jigawa and Kaduna states have appealed for a special grant to enable them meet the infrastructural needs of basic schools in the states, adding that the committee would look into the request.

“We have noted all the challenges affecting basic education in almost every part of the country and would take necessary legislative processes to see how funding of education sector would be increased,” he added.