Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has officially launched the training program for 1,949 teachers, marking the first phase of a broader initiative to improve education in the state.
This move, as noticed by our correspondent, follows the results of a recent competency test, which assessed the skills and knowledge of teachers across the state.
The launch event took place at the Waka Biu College of Education, located in the Biu Local Government Area.
During his speech, Governor Zulum explained that the competency test involved 15,823 teachers. Of those, 5,257 passed, 6,227 performed below the required standard but were deemed trainable, and 4,339 were found to be untrainable.
The governor announced that the training program is designed to support the 6,227 teachers who require further development.
The first phase, with 1,949 participants, according to him, will be followed by additional training for 2,730 teachers, with 1 billion Naira allocated to cover the costs.
The training, he said, will take place at the Waka Biu College of Education and the Umar Ibn Ibrahim Elkanemi College of Education, Science, and Technology in Bama.
Additionally, 846 teachers without tertiary qualifications, as made known by the governor, will enroll in a full-time National Certificate in Education (NCE) program.
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Governor Zulum highlighted the importance of this initiative in raising education standards across Borno.
Each participant, as announced by the governor, will receive free training and a monthly stipend of N30,000, in addition to their regular salary.
Adding that, the 846 teachers entering the full-time NCE program will also receive automatic in-service status.
In response to the initiative, the Borno State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) praised Governor Zulum for his efforts to transform the state’s education sector.
Led by the state NUT chairman, Zali Audu Garba, the NUT noted that the education sector in Borno is undergoing significant changes, driven by human and infrastructural development.
