The Jigawa State Government has declared a state of emergency in the education sector, launching a series of sweeping reforms aimed at tackling declining literacy rates and rebuilding the foundation of learning across the state.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Arewa PUNCH, Governor Umar Namadi said the drastic step followed a disturbing baseline survey that exposed widespread learning deficiencies among early-grade pupils.
“Education is the bedrock of any society. Our findings were alarming, so we had to act fast,” the governor stated.
According to the survey, eight out of every ten Primary One pupils in the state were unable to read or write. This revelation prompted the administration to initiate a comprehensive overhaul of the education system.
One of the key structural changes introduced was the splitting of the Ministry of Education into two separate entities: Basic Education and Higher Education. The move, according to Namadi, is aimed at reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks and ensuring more targeted governance across different education levels.
To address the acute shortage of teachers, the government confirmed 3,000 of the 4,500 JTeach temporary staff as permanent and pensionable workers. It also recruited an additional 3,000 new teachers and employed another 4,200 for senior secondary schools, bringing the total number of new hires to over 10,000 within a few months.
In its bid to improve monitoring and accountability in schools, the administration empowered School Based Management Committees (SBMCs) and introduced Mothers’ Forums to strengthen community involvement in education. While SBMCs are responsible for tracking teacher attendance, the Mothers’ Forums ensure that pupils attend school regularly — a strategy the governor said has significantly improved discipline and learning outcomes.
In partnership with NewGlobe, a UK-based education consultancy, the state is also working to enhance literacy and numeracy outcomes. Namadi noted that the collaboration is already producing “remarkable outcomes” in primary schools across Jigawa.
The government has further expanded access to formal education by integrating the Almajiri system. This includes the renovation of Tsangaya schools and the construction of three new boarding facilities, each capable of accommodating 1,500 pupils. These schools now offer a curriculum that combines Quranic instruction with basic literacy, numeracy, vocational training, and agriculture, aimed at promoting self-sustainability.
Efforts to strengthen technical and vocational education have led to the transformation of the former School of Basic Studies in Bamabara into an Institute of Vocational Training, equipped with modern facilities valued at N25 billion. Additionally, eight secondary schools were upgraded to Centres of Vocational Excellence to produce middle-level skilled manpower, while the State University of Technology continues to offer opportunities for advanced learning.
On teacher development, the governor disclosed that more than 7,000 teachers at the basic education level and 4,800 at the higher education level have undergone professional training, supported through the NewGlobe partnership. Furthermore, about 10,000 teachers are currently undergoing competency assessments to guide future training programmes.
“Our goal is to build a professional, well-equipped, and motivated teaching workforce,” Namadi affirmed, adding, “We are laying a solid foundation for the future of Jigawa.”
