Benue to establish 15 SMART schools, 11 technical colleges

Benue State Government has unveiled plans to establish 15 pilot SMART schools and 11 technical colleges across the state as part of a broader effort to revamp the education sector.

This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, Rev. Dr. Frederick Ikyaan, during a media briefing at his office in Makurdi.

Accordingto the commissioner, the move is aimed at addressing the infrastructural challenges facing public schools and aligning the state’s education system with modern standards.

Rev. Ikyaan revealed that the state also plans to construct standard Model schools that will serve as benchmarks for others to emulate. He expressed concern over the current state of public school infrastructure, describing it as deeply decayed and in urgent need of revitalization.

The Commissioner said the free registration of WAEC, NECO and NABTEB was from federal government palliative which has not come again and so government cannot continue with the gesture due to lack of resources.

On the security situation in the state, the Commissioner said, government is committed to the security and safety of learners and has keyed into the safe school model in collaboration with Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC) with the building of Rapid Response Center which is over seventy percent completed.