The N4.37 billion six science schools being constructed by the Kaduna State Government with support from the Islamic Development Bank will be ready by April 2019, says the Project Manager, Malam Shehu Isa.
Isa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Monday that the schools were at various stages of construction, between 20 to 30 percent.
He explained that the schools, two each in the three Senatorial District were sited in Hunkuyi, Pambeguwa, Rigachikun, Buruku, Jere, and Manchok.
According to him, the project includes the construction of classrooms, administrative blocks and staff quarters.
Others are laboratories, workshops, store, library, students’ hostels, Kitchen, cafeteria, security post, and sporting grounds among others.
“The one in Hunkuyi was awarded to Having Engineering Services at the cost of N755.91 million, the one in Pambeguwa was awarded to Micans Nigerian Ltd., at N722.98 million.
“Gamji Nigerian Company Ltd. is constructing the one in Rigachikun at the cost of N714.17 million, while Ummul Abiha Nigerian Ltd is handling Buruku site at N714.82 million.
“Axaka Nigerian Ltd. and Edi-Jen Companies Nigerian Ltd. Were handling Jere and Manchok sites at the cost of N705.35 million and N757.29 million respectively.”
He said that the N4.37 billion excludes the amount for the supply of furniture, learning materials, equipment, and capacity building for teachers and education ministry officials.
Isa explained that the construction, a one year project began in July 2017, but experienced a delay because the plan was initially to construct four schools before the current administration increased it to six for equity.
The State Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Ja’afaru Sani, had explained that the goal of the project was to promote science and technology education in the state.
Sani said after a tour of the schools to monitor the progress of work that the schools would have world-class facilities to give nothing but the best science and technology education.
“We want to have an environment where our students would at basic level be acquainted with the basic rudiments of science and technology for them to grow up and become inventors, scientists, and technologists.
“The world is technology-driven and all efforts must be made to lay the necessary foundation for our children to have interest in the field of science and technology.
“The current emphasis on education across the world is on science and technology; equipping our children with such skills is the way to enable them to compete favorably with their contemporaries anywhere in the world,’’ he said.
The commissioner, who expressed satisfaction with the progress of work so far, assured that the state government and the bank would continue to supervise to ensure the contractors deliver as promised.
