The Jigawa State government has taken a significant step to address the shortage of qualified teachers in senior secondary schools by recruiting 1,920 teachers. This move is part of Governor Malam Umar Namadi's administration commitment to improving the quality of education in the state. The recruitment includes 1,100 graduates who will be converted to permanent and pensionable positions, and 820 newly hired personnel under the Jigawa Teachers Employment and Capacity Enhancement Programme (J-TEACH).
According to Governor Namadi, the recruitment is aimed at enhancing the quality of education and addressing the shortage of qualified teachers in senior secondary schools. He made this announcement during the presentation of appointment letters to the selected candidates in Dutse. The governor emphasized that this initiative is part of his administration's commitment to improving teacher-student ratios and strengthening the education sector in the state.
The recruitment exercise is expected to complement other interventions aimed at improving access to education, particularly in underserved rural communities where shortages of qualified teachers remain a concern. Governor Namadi noted that his administration had recently distributed school uniforms, bags, and writing materials to thousands of learners across the state to improve school attendance and create a conducive learning environment.
The governor stressed that education remains central to his administration's vision for a greater Jigawa, and that the quality of teachers is critical to improving learning outcomes. He said the government would sustain teacher development through induction, continuous training, retraining, and professional development programmes to improve teaching methods and classroom performance.
Governor Namadi also recalled that his administration had engaged 7,500 personnel in basic education since 2023 through the J-TEACH programme, with 3,000 subsequently converted to permanent and pensionable appointments. He added that nearly 2,000 personnel had been engaged through the programme at the post-basic level, while 1,000 had subsequently secured permanent appointments.
As part of the intervention, the governor announced the distribution of 450 bicycles donated by Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) to pupils and students who travel long distances to schools in hard-to-reach communities. He said the bicycles would ease transportation difficulties, improve punctuality and attendance, and help reduce the risk of pupils dropping out of school.
The Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Isah Yusuf, said the recruitment was intended to bridge the teacher shortage in senior secondary schools. He urged the newly recruited teachers to be hardworking and dedicated, expressing the expectation that the intervention would improve teaching and learning across the state.
Key points
- The Jigawa State government has recruited 1,920 teachers to address the shortage of qualified teachers in senior secondary schools.
- The recruitment includes 1,100 graduates who will be converted to permanent and pensionable positions, and 820 newly hired personnel under the Jigawa Teachers Employment and Capacity Enhancement Programme (J-TEACH).
- The governor emphasized that education remains central to his administration's vision for a greater Jigawa, and that the quality of teachers is critical to improving learning outcomes.
