By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Ahead of the reopening of schools across the country, the federal government has selected 15 states to benefit from the COVID-19 GPE global partnership for education funding.
Kaduna state governor Nasir El-Rufai, announced this on Thursday, while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the virtual National Economic Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja.
The meeting was presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who chairs the body statutorily. NEC comprises of all the 36 state governors and FCT minister, CBN governor and few key ministers.
According to Governor El-Rufai, the beneficiary states are those that made two of the three criteria for GPE funding, a grant from the World Bank and other donors.
His words, “I am very pleased to announce that the federal government has put in place some financial incentives to assist the states in implementing the education COVID-19 plan.
“Selected states are to benefit from the COVID-19 GPE global partnership for education funding; those that are above the national average from at least two of three criteria.
“Namely: the states that have qualified are Abia, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Benue, Ebonyi, Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Kano, Nassarawa, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto and Zamfara states.
“These are the states that made two of the three criteria for GPE funding. This is the grant from the World Bank and other donors.”
Kaduna governor also said that the Ministry of Education presented a comprehensive memorandum to the National Executive Council (NEC) on education in the new normal.
He said, “Today, the Hon. Minister of State for Education presented a comprehensive memorandum to the council on education in the new normal.
“Our schools have been closed down though as part of the lockdown, there has been some easing.
“What the Federal Ministry of Education did today to the NEC was to provide a broad overview of the education sector and look forward to how we can continue with the education of our people in this difficult and unpredictable time.”
