The Kaduna State Government has announced scholarship opportunities for qualified candidates to study Medicine, Nursing and Health Technology-related courses in foreign universities.
Andrew Nok, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, told journalists in Kaduna on Friday, that the measure was to bridge the manpower gap in the health sector.
Mr. Nok said that to participate in the scholarship examination and selection interview, applicants must be residents of Kaduna State, adding, however, that priority would be given to candidates from indigent families.
“Applicants must be between the ages 17 and 20 and must also possess a minimum of six distinctions in science subjects in Senior Secondary School Examination (WAEC or NECO).
“The certificate should not be more than two years old, that is, it be must have been obtained between 2015 and 2016.”
He explained that the scholarship would cover tuition fees and up-keep.
The commissioner said the application form could be accessed online at www.kadunascholarship.com.ng
He said that after completing the form, candidates should attach WAEC or NECO certificate, birth certificate or declaration of age, letter of identification from local government of residence and passport photograph.
“Thereafter, the applicant should submit and print a copy. The date and venue of the aptitude test and interview will be announced later.”
According to him, there are currently over 100 beneficiaries of the state government’s foreign scholarship scheme.
He said that some were on PhD, Msc programmes as well as Medicine and other related courses in Malaysia, Uganda, Turkey, South Africa and Cyprus.
He said the students were doing very well, adding “we are getting value for our investment.”
Meanwhile, the state government had on Thursday commenced the disbursement of $21.5 million World Bank scholarship to female teachers and girl children.
The state Executive Chairman, Universal Basic Education Board, Nasiru Umar, said that the grant was being disbursed under the Global Partnership for Education/Nigerian Partnership for Education Project.
Mr. Umar said the grant was a World Bank intervention aimed at improving access and quality of basic education of the girl-child and “Almajiris”.
He said a total of 8,050 primary one to three girls from poor and backward communities in the state would each get N45,000 under the scheme.
The chairman said 1,047 female teachers would also receive N45,000 each under the scheme.
In addition, the scheme also provided grant for schools development, he said.
According to him, a total of 4,500 Nursery, Primary and Islamiya Schools will each receive N400,000 to improve infrastructure.
He noted that 2,563 Nursery, Primary and Islamiya schools benefited under the school development grant in 2016, resulting to a rise in public school enrolment.
Umar commended the state government for releasing N312 million for Teacher Professional Development (TPD) in 2016.
He said that 11,312 teachers had been trained on leadership and teaching skills to improve efficiency.
“This is a clear demonstration of the government’s effort towards improving teachers capacity for effective teaching and learning in public schools.
“It is our hope that the government will equally release the N500 million earmarked for 2017 TPD,’’ the chairman said. (NAN)
