AGILE Project: Plateau Identifies 55 Sites For Intervention

The Plateau State government has inaugurated the World Bank-supported Adolescent Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project in Jos.

The state commissioner for education (secondary) Mrs. Elizabeth Wapmuk while speaking during the project lunch in Jos said the AGILE is an intervention programme from the World Bank with the aim of developing the girl child and boys with requisite skills to advance to adulthood as they traverse the learning cycle.

Wapmuk said; “Girls’ education is a human right and our collective responsibility. The need education is for adolescent girls to acquire life and digital skills. They should also be able to demonstrate digital skills so that this can give them some independence and livelihood as against being dependent.”

Acting state project officer of AGILE, Mr Dachung Thomas in his remarks disclosed that the project comprised components which included creating new safe learning spaces and renovation and rehabilitation of secondary schools.

He said others also include social norms and communication; life skills and digital skills.

He said the project under such components would include the construction of nine classrooms for Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) and 12 classrooms for Senior Secondary School (SSS).

“In Plateau 55 sites have been identified for interventions comprising of 35 primary schools to be upgraded to JSS and 20 JSS to be upgraded to SSS. The 35 JSS when completed will provide 350 classrooms, 490 toilets and an expected enrollment of 14,000 students.

The 20 SSS will provide 240 classrooms, 20 multipurpose halls, 20 admin blocks,20 science labs,20 computer rooms , 280 toilets and will accommodate an expected 9600 students,’’ he said.