By Martha Agas

The World Bank supported Adolescent Girls’ Initiative For Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project says it has trained more than 15,000 students in 36 schools in Plateau.

The Acting Coordinator of the project in the state, Mr Dachung Thomas, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Jos.

“No fewer than 15,587 students in 36 schools have been trained through this scheme and we have procured Information Communication Technology (ICT) gadgets and have distributed it to 80 selected schools across the state,” he said.

He said that 160 teachers and students had earlier been trained as master trainers on digital skills, 200 teachers trained on remote learning, adding that internet connectivity was also being installed in 80 secondary schools.

He said that the training were activities on the project’s sub-component on digital literacy and remote learning platforms.

He also noted that the project comprised components on creating safe and accessible learning spaces; fostering and enabling environment for girls and project management and system strengthening.

The coordinator said that the project “which is an initiative of the Federal Government is aimed at addressing constraints adolescent girls confront in accessing and completing education”.

He said that Plateau government was also supporting the implementation of the programme in the state.

He said that under the project nine classrooms for Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) and 12 classrooms for Senior Secondary School (SSS) have been constructed while 35 primary schools upgraded to JSS and 20 JSS upgraded to SSS.

He explained that 35 upgraded JSS would provide 350 classrooms, 490 toilets while the 20 upgraded SSS would provide 240 classrooms, 20 multipurpose halls, 20 science laboratories, 20 computer rooms and 280 toilets.

NAN reports that the former Commissioner for Education in the state, Mrs Elizabeth Wapmuk, during the official launch of the project on May 28 said that 609 junior and senior secondary schools were being renovated and 170 schools have benefited of the project’s large School Implement Grants.

She said that 41,646 girls in 13 local government areas were beneficiaries of the Girls Scholarship Plan under the Conditional Cash transfer which has led to an increase in the enrolment of adolescent girls in school.

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AGILE Trains 15,000 Students on Digital Skills in Plateau State