FG inaugurates smart model school in Katsina, reaffirms education reform agenda

Education

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to building a future-ready and globally competitive education system with the inauguration of the Katsina State Smart Model Secondary School in Radda, Katsina State.

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, inaugurated the facility on Tuesday alongside Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda.

Alausa disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah.

The minister described the project as a major milestone, noting that the Smart School represents more than physical infrastructure, but a symbol of innovation, opportunity, and strategic investment in human capital aimed at preparing Nigerian students for a technology-driven global economy.

He commended the governor’s leadership under the Build-Your-Future Blueprint, stating that Katsina’s progress in expanding access to education, improving infrastructure, and strengthening teacher development reflects a strong commitment to sustainable development.

According to him, the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and forms part of broader reforms under the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI).

Alausa said the reforms focus on expanding access to education, strengthening Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medical Sciences (STEMM), as well as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), while also improving infrastructure, promoting inclusive education, and advancing digital governance.

He disclosed that over N106 billion in Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) matching grants had been accessed by states in the last 18 months, while more than N22 billion had been invested in teacher development. He added that N2.035 billion was disbursed to School-Based Management Committees nationwide.

The minister further stated that over 10,000 classrooms had been renovated, 978,000 teachers trained, and more than 7.8 million textbooks distributed across the country.

He announced that the revised Primary Education Curriculum is already being implemented nationwide, while a new Secondary Education Curriculum will take effect in the next academic session.

Alausa also revealed that funding had been secured for the HOPE Education Programme to deepen access, improve quality, and strengthen institutional capacity.

On skills development, he said more than 160,000 youths are currently undergoing training across over 1,200 TVET centres nationwide, with over one million applications recorded in the latest phase.

He highlighted ongoing digital reforms, including the rollout of a cloud-based Annual School Census and the introduction of the Learner Identification Number (LIN) to enhance data-driven planning, transparency, and accountability.

The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive education, noting intensified collaboration with states to address the challenge of out-of-school children. He added that the Katsina Smart Model Secondary School would serve as a national model for smart education and a catalyst for transformative change in the sector.

In his remarks, Governor Radda said his administration established the school based on the belief that education remains the foremost responsibility of government to its citizens.

He added that the state government would continue to ensure equitable access to quality education across all zones of Katsina State, noting that his administration has implemented far-reaching reforms since assuming office to reposition the sector.