By Sadiq Abubakar
Maiduguri
Borno state government yesterday said it planned to re-open all public schools on November 17, 2014.
It would be recalled that all government or public schools in the state were closed down on March 14, 2014, following deadly attacks by suspected Boko Haram insurgents on public schools in neighbouring Yobe state and some parts of the state.
Chairman of the newly constituted 19-man state committee on the resuscitation of primary school education system, Dr Mohammed El-Nur Dungel, stated this in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri.
Dungel said government had already procured chemicals for the fumigation of the schools against reptiles and other rodents before the re-opening date.
He said: “All things being equal, public schools will re-open for classes on November 17, 2024. Governor Kashim Shettima has already approved the procurement of chemicals for the fumigation of the schools against reptiles and other rodents ahead of the re-opening.”
Dungel added that the exercise would, however, only affect primary schools, as secondary schools would remain closed pending when the internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) taking refuge in the schools were relocated.
“We plan to re-open public secondary schools soon after the primary schools.
“We are working on plans to relocate the IDPs to two places- the Hajj Camp and the International Conference Centre Maiduguri, so that the schools will be re-opened for classes.”
“Government has also introduced free daily meals in all public schools to entice students to stay in school and government had also procured K-Yan instructional machines for easy teaching and learning in schools.
“We have introduced perimeter fencing in all public schools to ensure maximum security.
We have also increased the number of security men in schools to ensure 24 hours security.”
Dungel said government was also working on partnership with the local vigilance groups under the aegis of the Civilian JTF to ensure that schools were protected.
