The Jigawa State Government has declared a state of emergency on education and rolled out sweeping reforms aimed at tackling poor literacy rates and improving learning outcomes across the state.
Governor Umar Namadi, speaking in an exclusive interview with Arewa PUNCH, said the move followed a baseline survey which revealed that **eight out of every 10 pupils in Primary One could neither read nor write.
“Education is the bedrock of any society. Our findings were alarming, so we had to act fast,” Namadi said.
To address the crisis, the government has recruited over 10,000 teachers in recent months. This includes the confirmation of 3,000 temporary J-Teach staff as permanent workers, the employment of another 3,000 new teachers, and the addition of 4,200 teachers at the senior secondary level.
The state has also introduced **structural reforms**, splitting the Ministry of Education into Basic Education and Higher Education to reduce bureaucracy and improve management.
Other interventions include:
* Strengthening school monitoring through School-Based Management Committees and Mothers’ Forums, which track teacher attendance and pupil enrolment.
* Partnering with NewGlobe, a UK-based consultancy, to improve literacy and numeracy at the primary school level.
* Integrating the Almajiri system into formal schooling, with renovated Tsangaya schools and three new mega-boarding Tsangaya institutions, each accommodating 1,500 pupils and combining Quranic studies with literacy, numeracy, and vocational training.
* Expanding vocational education by converting the School of Basic Studies in Bamabara into an Institute of Vocational Training, equipping it with ₦25 billion worth of facilities, and upgrading eight secondary schools into vocational excellence centres.
On teacher development, Governor Namadi said over 11,000 teachers have already undergone training at both basic and higher levels, while about 10,000 are currently undergoing competency assessments to guide future professional development.
“Our goal is to build a professional, well-equipped, and motivated teaching workforce. We are laying a solid foundation for the future of Jigawa,” Namadi affirmed.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.
