The Bauchi state government today scored a major milestone in the education sector by partnering with USAID on the Education with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU will see the state partner with USAID on initiatives and programmes to improve the edu-sector and will run for 5 years. There is also a target of teaching 2 million Primary school children to read.




Governor Abubakar decried the poor state of the education sector which he inherited, vowed to restore its lost glory. He maintained that for this reason, 20% of the total budget in 2016 and 2017 was allocated to the sector. He expressed optimism that the partnership will stem the rot in the sector and turn it around, while calling on similar bodies and stakeholders to partner with his administration to secure the future of the state.

Also speaking at the event was the Perm. Sec. Bauchi State Min. of Education, Alh. Nasiru Muhammad. He commended Gov. M. A. Abubakar for creating an enabling environment for development partners to operate in the state. According to the permanent secretary the MOU will go a long way in improving the basic education subsector in the state.

Representatives of USAID were also present, with the USAID Mission Director Michael T. Harvey saying that the United States commends Bauchi for its extraordinary effort to provide greater learning opportunities for its children. He added that USAID will continue to work with Bauchi to meet set education targets.

In addition, the Mission Director said current collaboration with Bauchi state includes: NEI -Plus, Education Crisis Response and the Leadership empowerment, Advocacy and Development initiatives. These projects will build the state and local capacity and systems that will teach about 2 Million Primary School Pupils how to read and write and give an opportunity to about 551,000 children to attend school in community based learning centers by the year 2020.