Recently, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State urged public school teachers who declined their initial postings to promptly submit their resignations. This call was made during the launch of the programme “Transforming Education System at State Level (TESS),” where a total of N4.05 billion in grants was disbursed to 150 selected primary schools.
The event, held at Shagumba Primary School in Batagarawa Local Government Area, demonstrated Governor Radda’s commitment to addressing critical challenges in the education sector.
Governor Radda detailed that schools were chosen based on specific criteria, including the level of deterioration, the number of pupils in surrounding communities, and the lack of water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities.
Through the TESS program, School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) are entrusted with overseeing the prudent use and management of the allocated funds. Governor Radda urged these committees to ensure transparent and effective use of the grants for their intended purposes.
In response to concerns about public school teacher recruitment, the governor’s directive requires those who initially rejected postings to resign, creating opportunities for eager candidates awaiting appointments. He stressed the significance of punctuality among teachers and urged the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, SUBEB Education secretaries, and coordinators of Zonal Education Quality Assurance to intensify efforts to ensure teachers attend lessons promptly.
Governor Radda issued a stern warning against insubordination, emphasizing a zero-tolerance approach to teachers and staff neglecting their duties without valid reasons.
To further promote community involvement, the governor encouraged education stakeholders, particularly community members, to actively engage by regularly visiting schools, monitoring lesson delivery, assessing teacher attendance, and reporting incidents of truancy or absenteeism.
Binta Abdulmumini, the coordinator of TESS, expressed confidence in the program’s potential to play a pivotal role in reintegrating numerous out-of-school children in Katsina back into the educational system. According to her, the governor’s multifaceted approach signals a determined effort to enhance the quality of education and address issues hindering the state’s educational progress.