29 August 2008
Abuja — The Ebonyi State Government yesterday in Abuja, appealed to the World Bank to provide support for the development of basic education in the state."We are seeking the World Bank's support in basic education to address the numerous problems in the sub sector," Mr Agha Okoro, the education commissioner said.
Okoro told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), that the support was aimed at addressing the general decay in the education sub-sector.
"The objective is to carry out general rehabilitation on the existing school structures that are in serious state of decay.
"We also plan to construct additional facilities to meet the rising demand across the state," he said.
Okoro said the problem emanated from the long years of neglect by previous administrations.
"Most previous administrations failed to make adequate fund available for education for reasons best known to them.
"The reality on the ground will attest to this; it is sad to state that even in Abakiliki, the state capital, there are schools with blown off roofs," he said.
Okoro said the situation had greatly affected school enrolment as most parents were discouraged from taking their children to school.
"The situation does not encourage parents to send their children to school because there is no conducive atmosphere for learning," he said.
Okoro said efforts to utilise the monthly allocation from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to salvage the situation were fruitless because of the magnitude of the problem.
"Already we have packaged a proposal for submission to the bank's headquarters in Abuja for consideration," he said, but did not state the amount in question.
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