The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), is currently implementing the 100 by 100 programme which entails the renovation and upgrading of 100 schools in 100 days
According to the FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, the objective of the project is to intervene directly in providing infrastructure and facilities for students in FCT schools, in order to establish a more conducive environment that will promote learning.
Making this assertion yesterday, while receiving award of commendation from the leadership All-African Students
Union (AASU), in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary said the outcome of the project will ensure that the FCT will be able to produce more brilliant students coming out of the system.
He explained that immediately after the release of contract, its execution will take only 100 days, which pushes the administration to pick out very credible contractors, who have the capacity, identify the schools, measure the works and other activity required.
The FCT Permanent Secretary disclosed that unfortunately, the programme was not carried out in the previous administration, but the project is still being implemented, as the government is a continuum.
According to him: “For us in FCT, the commitment to the growth and development of the educational sector is a priority. And we are currently implementing the 100 by 100 programme which entails the renovation and upgrading of 100 schools in 100 days.
“We are also addressing the skills requirements and the welfare need of our staff. Last year, over 80 teachers were promoted from Deputy Directors to Principal Directors. This is to ensure that these teachers or employees are well motivated after the large mount of years they served by attaining the peak of their careers so that they can continue to deliver teaching services.
“We also pay attention to the challenge of security which is very difficult to sustain because we spend substantial amount on the effort to provide it. In our schools particularly, those are the fringes and we use both the conventional and non conventional methods.“
He added: “Our challenge however, is the influx of the students trooping into the FCT. Majority of students in the FCT are from the neighboring states around the city because of inadequacies of government in providing standard facilities and this pushes them to trekking into the nation’s capital especially from Nasarawa to Abuja, Kogi to Abuja or even Niger to Abuja. So in all those fringes, you see the schools are very fat in terms of human population, but because it is still one Nigeria, we believe that they are entitled to be educated and wil continue to provide them in that aspect.”
Earlier, the AASU President and leader of the delegation, Osisiogu Osikenyi, commended the FCTA for committing itself to improving better access to education at all levels in the Territory.
Osisiogu, who expressed worries about campus insecurity, said the Union is very happy that“You have not allowed any campus in FCT to be on the ugly list of the campuses that have been attacked by hoodlums, we want you to intensify on that.
“Continue to be liaising with security agencies, so as to make sure that campuses, especially those which are located at the borderlines of the FCT.”
PIAK
