By CHARLES IWUOHA

A non-governmental organisation, the Development Research and Projects Centre (DRPC), has donated N300,000 grants to selected technical and vocational schools nationwide to prepare their final year students for National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) examinations.

The NABTEB examination is scheduled to commence nationwide on Monday, September 21.

Presenting the grant to Government Technical College, Akpuoga-Nike, Enugu, on Monday on behalf of DRPC, its Executive Director of South Saharan Social Development Organization (SSDO), Dr Stanley Ilechukwu, said that the grant was meant to support educational development.

According to Ilechukwu, the DRPC through the grant is bringing about positive change even with the challenges posed by COVID-19 to education.

He said that the DRPC is a social sector development focused NGO with particular interest in the development of the education sector.

Ilechukwu noted that in the implementation of this national-level intervention, DRPC partnered with South Saharan Social Development Organization (SSDO) in the execution of the project in Enugu State.

“The grant funding is targeted at helping the school make extra lessons available, procuring past questions, and textbooks to aid studying and improve the overall performance of the students in the examination.

“Also, the funds will be targeted at getting resources for the practical sessions of the examination.

“Furthermore, the funds will also be channeled towards ensuring that Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as face masks and sanitizers are acquired to ensure that the safety of the students is guaranteed during the examination period,” he said.

Ilechukwu also said that the grant would be disbursed in three installments through the period of the examination.

Responding, the Principal of the school, Mr. Raphael Ndubuisi, lauded the DRPC for the grant, which he said was coming at a deserving time when it is mostly needed.

“I really want to appreciate the effort of DRPC and SSDO in the improvement of quality of education and welfare of students during the period of the examination.

“I will personally assure you that the grant would be judiciously used,” Ndubuisi said.

The donation of the grant was witnessed by officials of the state’s Ministry of Education, the school’s Parents-Teachers-Association Chairman, among other personalities.

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