by crossriverwatch admin
Cross River state Government spent the sum of N1.2 billion on the provision of laboratory equipment in 60 Schools in the year 2012.
The state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Offiong Offiong disclosed this recently in Calabar, the state capital.
Offiong said the expenditure was in accordance with the State Government’s resolution to comprehensively renovate all the state schools in the 18 Local
Government areas in order to provide quality education to the people of the state.
He added that in the first phase of the State Government project, 40 out of the 60 schools listed to benefit had been equipped with laboratory facilities.
“The contract to equip the schools covers Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Computer laboratories and the value is
N1.2 billion,” he said.
Furthermore, he said the State Government also provided tables, chairs and twin-desks for teachers in the schools at the cost of N340 million, adding that 41 schools will benefit from the second phase of the project.
He therefore, appealed to schools and communities that were yet to benefit from the project to be patient, stressing that all schools in the state would receive the same attention, noting that the contract will be awarded soon.
Offiong explained that the ministry had set up Maintenance Committees in public schools to ensure that facilities were regularly maintained and their utility sustained.
He added that no fewer than 212 school inspectors were trained in 2012 on capacity building programme by the Ministry of Education and 3,508 teachers were also trained under the Teachers Professional Development scheme in the state.
Offiong however applauded the State Governor, Liyel Imoke who approved funds for the project.