Kano govt. says N32.9m spent on feeding schoolgirls
The Kano State Government says it spent N32.9 million on feeding schoolgirls. The amount was part of the more than N1.02 billion the government claimed it so far expended on girls’ education-related projects, as provided in its 2022 budget.
Mairo Bello, the co-chair, Girl Education Partnership, stated this on Saturday. She said that the government received support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, through its Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn.
She explained that girls’ specific budget lines got N868.6 million of the total budget, while the government spent N155.5 million on executing projects directed at boys and girls education in the state. Out of the N868.6 million, she said feeding of the girls gulped N32.9 million; N116.6 million for transitional examination; N177.6 million for National Examination Council; and N90 million for the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies examination.
In addition, the government said that it expended N12 million on the State Agency for Mass Education; N132 million for the renovation of girls’ secondary schools; and N12.5 million for the repairs of shuttle buses for schoolgirls.
“This is a milestone for us, because the shuttle buses will support in transporting girls from poor households to school at no cost.
“This will significantly increase girls’ access to education by removing transportation and distance barriers.
“It also provides security as a safety measure by taking the girls from their homes to school and returning them back to their houses safely.
“This, in the long run, will increase girls’ school enrolment, retention, transition, and completion,” she said.
