BY: AISHA AHMED, DUTSE
Jigawa state Commissioner for Higher education Dr Yusuf Chamo, has said that education has received a boost in one year under the watch of Governor Umar Namadi of the state.
Chamo, while speaking at a Press conference in Dutse on Tuesday to mark the Namadi administration’s one-year achievements, said the transformation is laudable.
He said that education is a key component of the Namadi’s 12-point agenda, with which he campaigned and became successfully elected governor of the state.
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According to him, on inception, the administration worked with two Ministries of Basic and Higher education, in order to accord each, with the best and needed tools restore the lost glory of education in the state.
The administration he said, made an increase of 50 percent on feeding cost for boarding schools, to meet up with the current economic hardship caused by Federal government policies.
Chamo revealed that the government increased the feeding cost to ensure quality and nutritious food is being provided to the students.
“The increment was made necessary due to the current inflation being experienced in the country and the fate of the students was considered due to complaints by the contractors supplying food to the schools.
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Dr Chamo also, disclosed that the Namadi administration has digitized the higher institutions of learning in the state by providing computers and Internet services, in addition to upgrading skills of teachers on Information Technology.
“One of the major achievements of the administration in educational line, is the sponsorship of about 3,000 students to study abroad in Cyprus, India and Dubai and increased students’ scholarships to about 100 percent.
Also, to revamp the education sector under the Basic Education Ministry, the administration improved the tsangaya Education system through improving the quality of life for the pupils and their teachers.
Also at a Press conference, the Commissioner for Basic Education in the state, Dr Lawal Danzomo, said the administration strengthened the capacity of teachers, in order to provide quality education.
He explained that about 4,000 teachers were trained on acquired basic skills in teaching while some teachers were placed on examination, to ensure quality assurance in education.
According to him, “About 1,000 college graduates were recruited to teach in basic schools, to fill up the gap of shortage of teachers, identified by Lead assessment conducted.
“The teachers were recruited and trained under the “J Teach” initiative and had to undergo an aptitude test, to test their capacity and competence.” Danzomo highlighted.
To further revitalise the education sector, the Namadi administration also distributed about 68,000 free uniforms to basic and higher educational institute in the state, especially for girls, to improve the girl child education in the state.
At one of the events that took place recently in Jahun local Council of the state, the Governor was reported saying that his administration gives special consideration to girl-child education.
Danzomo stressed that the administration has declared to provide free girls’ education from primary school to tertiary institutions.
The administration he said, has pledged to continue providing an enabling atmosphere for school teachers to develop themselves through introducing technology into the education system.