To return schools in the country to their years of lost glory, the federal government has set out a strategic plan to be implemented for the next four years.
The Minister of Education, Prof Ruqayyatu Rufa’i, yesterday unveiled the 4-Year Strategic Plan for the Development of the Education Sector: 2011-2015.
The minister said that the plan represents the education component of President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda.
“We must return our institutions to their years of glory when they produced individuals who are today directing affairs in diverse organisations all over the world,” she said.
“We as parents are proud of the type of education that we received from our institutions during our school years.
“From certain indications, it seems that focus was lost somewhat, which brought about challenges of quality delivery and output in our institutions.
“I promise you, fellow Nigerians, that the 4-Year Strategic Plan for the Development of the Education Sector, will address these shortcomings,” she added.
According to her, key areas of the plan include guidance and counselling, teacher development needs assessment and teacher professional development, Monitoring of learning achievement, and quality assurance.
With on-going construction of 102 model schools to for Almajirai, she said, the federal government is “moving to the South-East to launch the campaign to target the challenge of Boy-Child education.”
She said that special schools are already being constructed targeted at girl education at a cost of over N2 billion.In addition, Rufa’i said that the document earmarked about N15 billion to the construction of new laboratories and rehabilitation of old ones in the 51 public polytechnics.