Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai
The Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology,
Mallam Ja’afaru Sani, said the government has recruited additional
13,606 qualified primary school teachers, including a PhD holder in the
state.
Sani said the exercise marked the completion of the 25,000 vacancy
announced after the sack of the 22,000 unqualified teachers in the state
in January, this year.
The Commissioner also noted that in addition to the PhD holder, 8,494 of
the 25,000 recruited teachers were first degree holders while the
remaining were National Certificate in Education holders.
Addressing news conference in Kaduna on Saturday, Sani also announced
that the state had commenced full implementation of free education for
girls in the public secondary schools across the state.
This, the commissioner said was in compliance with directives from the state governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai.
He said about 191,445 female students currently in public schools are to
benefit from the gesture which would cost the government N143.587
million every term and N430.791 million every year respectively.
He said the decision became necessary in order to remove all obstacles
stopping the girl-child from acquiring education in the state.
“We hope by this gesture parents will have no excuse not to send their
girl-child to school and significantly increase enrolment and retention
of the girl-child in school.
“It will be recalled that the female students were accorded priority
when the government distribute 15,000 tablets computers to secondary
school students,” he added.
He added that about N900 million and N70.335 million have been expended
on girl-child scholarship and female teacher support respectively under
the World Bank’s 21.5 million dollars grant for Global Partnership for
Education project.
He also disclosed some of the supporters to include T. Y. Danjuma
Foundation that supported 120 girls, Centre for Girl Education of ABU
Zaria, 250 girls, and Girl-Child Concern, 750 girls.
“Similarly, Mercy Corps Foundation in collaboration with the education
ministry had equally returned 100 married women dropped-out back to
school,” Sani added.