Taraba Achieved 70% Performance In 2025 Education Budget – Commissioner

The Taraba State government achieved nearly 70 per cent of its budgetary allocation to the education sector in 2025.

The commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Augustina Godwin, who disclosed this in Jalingo, attributed the progress to increased capital investment and reforms introduced by Governor Agbu Kefas.

She said the 2026 budgetary allocation to education has doubled that of 2025.

Dr Godwin said the state government earmarked N26 billion for education in 2025, with a major portion channelled towards capital projects, particularly infrastructure development.

“Taraba State government has prioritised education because it is the first item in Governor Agbu Kefas’ Five-Point Agenda. That is why a state of emergency was declared in the sector, followed by the introduction of free and compulsory basic education,” she said.

The commissioner said since 2023, the state has implemented reforms in education, as well as a 50 per cent reduction in tuition fees for tertiary institutions, thereby easing the financial burden on parents and guardians and boosting school enrolment.

She said the bulk of the 2025 allocation was invested in infrastructure, including the construction of 60 new model schools across the state.

The commissioner added that the government procured Hydraform brick-making machines from South Africa to support the construction of the schools.

“The machines have been distributed across the 16 local government areas, with some councils receiving two or three units based on population size.

“Selected young people in the state were trained on how to operate the machines to produce Hydraform bricks for the ongoing projects. Construction has commenced in various locations, and some of the model schools are nearing completion,” she said.

She added that one of the schools, designed as a boarding facility, already has hostel blocks, a dining hall and other auxiliary structures under construction. More schools are expected to be ready for commissioning by April.

“In addition to infrastructure, the government has introduced KIA digital learning technology to enhance teaching and learning and experts from India have trained selected teachers on the use of the technology, which operates similarly to computers and is expected to be deployed initially in the 60 model schools before expansion to other public schools,” the commissioner said.