The Jigawa government has hired 1,920 teachers under its J-Teach scheme to enhance access to quality education. Governor Umar Namadi announced this while presenting letters of appointment to the beneficiaries on Friday in Dutse.

He said the measure was part of efforts to expand the teaching workforce and address the teacher shortage in the state.

“Today, we are formally presenting appointment letters to 1,920 beneficiaries,” he said.

Mr Namadi explained that the government confirmed the appointment of 1,100 teachers earlier enrolled into the scheme after completing the required training and selection process.

He disclosed that 820 newly recruited teachers would join the J-Teach scheme to build their capacities and strengthen the teaching workforce.

The governor said that his administration deliberately and strategically expanded the teaching workforce through continued teacher recruitment. 

Mr Namadi directed that postings and redeployments should be based on verified needs, qualifications, merit, subject specialisation and performance.

“Deployment must also be closely monitored to prevent the emergence of imbalances between urban and rural areas,” he said.

The J-Teach pathway, he said, brought 7,500 employees into basic education since 2023, with 3,000 subsequently converted to permanent and pensionable appointments.

Isa Chamo, commissioner for higher education, science, and technology, said the latest recruitment was based on teacher shortage in secondary schools.

Mr Chamo revealed that more than 8,000 applicants competed for the 1,100 posts after undergoing training, screening, interviews and examinations. He said that the recruitment was based on the needs of the schools and not on a quota system.

The commissioner said the ministry identified teacher shortage in specific subjects and deployed successful applicants according to the needs of individual schools.

Lawan Danzomo, commissioner for basic education, said that J-Teach was introduced to address teacher shortages while providing employment opportunities for qualified graduates.

Mr Danzomo said that the programme expanded into other sectors through J-Agro, J-Health, J-Justice, and J-Technology initiatives.

According to Mr Danzomo, J-Teach provides a temporary platform through which graduates are being assessed before qualifying for permanent and pensionable appointments.

One of the beneficiaries, Adam Adam, commended the gesture, adding that it renewed their hopes and confidences. 

Meanwhile, the governor has distributed 450 bicycles donated by GTBank to selected secondary school students in hard-to-reach communities. He said the bicycles would ease students’ journeys to school and improve punctuality, attendance and retention.

Bulama Laminu, GTBank regional manager, said the donation was part of the bank’s corporate social responsibility.

He assured that the bank would engage relevant ministries, departments and agencies to identify areas where it could support development in Jigawa.

(NAN)