The Jigawa State Government has taken a significant step to strengthen its education sector by recruiting 2,020 new secondary school teachers. The newly appointed teachers comprise 1,100 appointed on permanent and pensionable terms and 920 engaged under the J-Teach programme. This move is part of the government's efforts to address shortages of qualified teachers and improve pupil-teacher and student-teacher ratios across the state, particularly in underserved rural communities.
Governor Umar Namadi presided over the presentation of appointment letters to the newly recruited teachers at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Dutse. He stated that the intervention was aimed at addressing teacher shortages and improving learning conditions. The governor emphasized that the government's investment in education must go beyond infrastructure and learning materials, highlighting the importance of having sufficient numbers of qualified and motivated teachers in schools.
The governor noted that the appointments represented another stage of the administration's effort to strengthen the teaching workforce while creating employment opportunities for qualified young people. He stressed that in a rapidly changing world, people need the knowledge, skills, and tools that quality education provides to thrive. The government has continued to commit a significant proportion of its annual budget to education, matching investments in classrooms, furniture, and instructional materials with enough qualified, motivated, and properly supported teachers.
Governor Namadi said the state government would continue to give attention to teacher development, including induction, continuous training and retraining, improved teaching methods, and professional development through the Teacher Development Agency. This, he said, would ensure that teachers are equipped to deliver effective teaching and meaningful learning. The governor also assured the new appointees that the government would provide the necessary support while urging them to demonstrate professionalism, discipline, and commitment to the interests of learners.
The latest appointments are part of a broader expansion of the teaching workforce since the beginning of Governor Namadi's administration. Since 2023, the J-TEACH pathway has brought 7,500 personnel into basic education, with 3,000 subsequently converted to permanent and pensionable appointments after training and a competitive selection process. At the post-basic level, nearly 2,000 personnel entered through the same programme, and 1,000 later secured permanent status.
The governor commended Guaranty Trust Bank for donating 450 bicycles to pupils and students who travel long distances to schools in hard-to-reach communities. He said the intervention would help ease the burden of daily travel and improve access, punctuality, attendance, and retention among affected learners. The government has also deployed over 2,100 graduate teachers and employed about 600 teaching and non-teaching staff for mega schools and other boarding senior secondary schools across the state.
With this latest recruitment, the Jigawa State Government has demonstrated its commitment to improving the education sector. The government has provided school uniforms, bags, and writing materials to thousands of learners across the state to improve access and strengthen learning conditions. The recruitment of new teachers is expected to have a positive impact on the education sector, particularly in underserved rural communities, and contribute to better teaching, improved learning outcomes, and a stronger future for every child in Jigawa State.
Key points
- The Jigawa State Government has recruited 2,020 new secondary school teachers to address teacher shortages and improve education sector.
- The recruitment is part of a broader expansion of the teaching workforce since the beginning of Governor Namadi's administration.
- The government has also invested in teacher development, including induction, continuous training and retraining, and professional development through the Teacher Development Agency.
