Katsina State Government has officially launched a step-down training program for 18,000 teachers and commenced the distribution of 20,000 tablets to selected beneficiaries, in a bid to enhance teaching quality and improve educational outcomes across the state.
According to a statement on Friday by the state governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahima Kaulaha, the launch ceremony was presided over by the Deputy Governor, Faruq Jobe, who represented Governor Dikko Radda.
The statement read, “The Deputy Governor outlined key initiatives undertaken by the state to revamp the education sector. These include the distribution of school materials and 30,000 uniforms to less privileged children, provision of specialised teaching aids for schools for the blind and deaf, installation of CCTV cameras in 130 schools to enhance security, and the provision of 70 motorcycles to monitoring officers to improve school supervision, particularly in rural areas.”
“These are not just statistics but a strategic investment in the future of our children,” he stated. “By equipping teachers with modern tools and the necessary training, we are aligning our educational system with global standards to prepare our students for 21st-century competitiveness,” the statement read.
The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Hajiya Zainab Musawa, hailed the initiative as “a significant milestone” in the state’s ongoing quest to restore the glory of education. She appreciated the World Bank, UBEC, and other partners for their collaboration, stressing that the government remains committed to empowering teachers through capacity-building initiatives designed to enhance teaching and learning.
Providing further details, the State Project Coordinator of the TESS programme, Hajiya Binta Abdulmumini, explained that the initiative implemented in collaboration with the World Bank and the Federal Government will train 18,000 teachers through 90 master trainers who have undergone prior specialised training. She added that each participating teacher will receive a tablet preloaded with lesson plans and digital teaching resources.
Chairperson of the Katsina State Teachers’ Association, Hajiya Rakiya Shehu, praised the government’s commitment to teachers and students, urging all stakeholders to ensure the programme’s success.
The ceremony attracted several dignitaries, including the Chief Judge of Katsina State, Justice Musa Danladi; the Commissioner of Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education; the Permanent Secretary of MBASE, Hajiya Ummulkhairi Ahmed Bawa; Chairman of SUBEB, Dr. Kabir Magaji; Permanent Member II, Rabiu Idris Funtua; the Deputy Chief of Staff at the Government House; Alhaji Salisu Mamman Kadandani, CEO of Continental Computers; top security personnel; and other senior government officials.
