Ekiti State Government has approved about N165m for reconstruction works at two special schools in the state.

The Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, in a statement in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, listed the schools as Government Special School, Ido-Ekiti and Government Special School for the Deaf, Ikoro-Ekiti.

Speaking on decisions taken at the State Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, Olatunbosun said the council approved N85.73m for the Government Special School, Ido-Ekiti, covering the reconstruction of failed drainage systems and the concrete landscaping of driveways and walkways within the school premises.

Similarly, the government approved N88.94m for the Government Special School for the Deaf, Ikoro-Ekiti, where erosion had severely affected drainage channels, driveways, walkways, and parts of the school frontage.

He said, “The interventions are expected to restore critical infrastructure within the affected schools, improve the safety and accessibility of the facilities, and provide a more conducive learning environment for students, particularly those with special educational needs.

“The approval specifically covers the reconstruction of failed drainage systems and the concrete landscaping of driveways and walkways at the Government Special School, Ido-Ekiti, as well as the construction of a new culvert, drainage systems, and associated concrete works at the Government Special School for the Deaf, Ikoro-Ekiti.”

According to him, the interventions became necessary following the devastating impact of erosion on key infrastructure within the schools, including collapsed drainage channels, damaged walkways, compromised driveways, and in some cases, damaged perimeter fencing and assembly grounds.

These, he said, had significantly affected the learning environment and overall safety of students, particularly given the special needs of the pupils in the affected institutions.

The commissioner said the two projects “are to be executed within 16 weeks by the State Bureau of Special Projects through direct labour, given the urgency of the intervention and the need to minimise disruption to the learning activities of the students.”