The Enugu state Universal Basic Education Board, (ESUBEB), has embarked on massive construction and renovation of the existing class room blocks in the primary and junior secondary schools as part of the effort aimed at promoting functional basic education.
The ESUBEB boss, Miss Nneka Onuorah, who disclosed this to newsmen in her office stated that they have currently embarked on the massive construction and renovation of over 300 classroom buildings for both primary and junior secondary schools that spread across the 17 local government areas of the state.
Onuorah noted that the construction and the renovation of the schools covers 3 classroom blocks and 6 classroom blocks respectively adding that the schools were carefully selected from all the local government areas of the state.
According to her, the breakdown shows that 72 new school buildings are being constructed while 244 buildings are undergoing renovation with each building containing either 3 classrooms or 6 classrooms blocks.
The chairman noted that the projects which began in 2009 to 2011 through intervention fund will cost the board over 3.6 billion naira and will also cover the furnishing and that when completed the constructed and renovated classroom blocks will be equipped with modern technology for easy academic learning
She maintained that the board was poised to providing a conducive and enabling environment for academic activities adding that when the projects are completed parents will be forced to withdraw their wards from private schools to public schools.
Onuorah further decried the poor level of infrastructural decay in both our primary schools and junior secondary in the state stressing that soon Enugu state would be among the best in country in terms of academic performance.
She said: “Most of the school buildings have collapsed, many have leaking roofs while some have no windows and doors, in some cases pupils received lessons under trees so in such situation how can the pupils cope. It is horrible.
“With our vision now in progress soon the school system in Enugu state will change and pupils and school children will enjoy good environment studying under well constructed and renovated classrooms with multi tiles roof equipped with nice furniture like green chalk board or magnetic marker board, desks and others.”