The Katsina State government has announced the introduction of a N30,000 termly allowance for the teachers posted to rural areas across the state.

This followed approval by the state executive council at its 18th regular meeting, presided over by Governor Dikko Radda, on Wednesday in Katsina.

The state’s Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Yusuf Suleiman-Jibia, revealed this to journalists in Katsina on Thursday.

Mr Suleiman-Jibia said the allowance, to be given every term, would bolster teachers’ commitment and reduce their burden.

According to him, the council also approved the establishment of Teachers’ Development Training Centres across Katsina, Daura, and Funtua zones.

Mr Suleiman-Jibia added that the centres were intended to improve the capacity of primary and secondary school teachers through capacity-building training.

He stated that resource persons would be sourced from higher institutions of learning and from some retired educationists in the state.

The decision to introduce the allowance was endorsed at a summit organised in September by Save the Children International (SCI) and funded by Education Cannot Wait (ECW).

At the summit to mark the international day to protect education from attack, Raliya Yusuf, director of senior schools in the ministry, said the aim was to encourage them to accept posting, especially to areas with light security challenges.

Ms Yusuf explained that it was worrisome to see many teachers always wanting to remain in urban areas, leaving rural areas with very few teachers.

She said the ministry was doing everything possible to resolve the problem, expressing confidence that the introduction of the allowance would help.

In response, SCI commended the state government for the initiative, saying it marked a significant step toward strengthening the education sector across the state.

Atine Lewi, the SCI programme manager, said the interventions reflected a purposeful and forward-looking approach to education reforms.

(NAN)