Kaduna — Determined to maintain and improve the quality of basic education in six targeted local government areas focusing on girls' participation, the Kaduna State government has presented grants to schools with the aim of achieving it developmental objectives on the education sector.

The state governor, Architect Mohammed Namadi Sambo stated that the six targeted local government areas are Birnin Gwari, Chikun, Kagarko, Sanga, Soba and Zaria. He said the gesture was in line with his administration's 11 point agenda of which compulsory free primary education takes second place after security for peace and development.

Speaking through his deputy, Mr.Patric Ibrahim Yakowa to launch the state's SESP project and presentation of school grants yesterday in Kaduna, he said the SESP was set to compliment the efforts of the state government in the area of improving the quality of basic education, empowering school based management committees, providing free text books and improving teaching methods and learning among other set objectives.

According to him, some of the state's projects in recent times as part of its effort to create a more conducive teaching and learning environment include," construction of 90 blocks of two classrooms in secondary schools at the cost of N277, 262,254.80, rehabilitation of classrooms and laboratories, provision of student/teachers furniture, improving of teachers welfare and development of educational resource centers and the inspectorate at the total cost of N75, 361,303.75".

"38 schools will have upgraded learning facilities through increased access. Core text books will be provided in 500 targeted schools at an approximate student -textbook ratio of 1:1through the established state text books policy", explained the governor.