Kaduna State Plans to Recruit 10,000 Teachers to Address Education Deficit

The Kaduna State Government has announced its intention to hire 10,000 teachers for basic education to tackle the shortage of educators in its public schools. The state’s Commissioner of Education, Prof. Mohammed Bello, made this known during a reflection meeting on the implementation of the teacher recruitment, deployment, and retention policy in the state.

Prof. Bello, represented by the ministry’s Director of Planning, Salisu Lawal, highlighted that the ministry’s updated annual school census identifies schools with teacher shortages. He also mentioned plans to collaborate with agencies to enhance teacher deployment and retention in conflict-affected areas.

Addressing challenges faced by public schools, the ministry has proposed solutions, including the use of digital learning. Efforts are also being made to prevent teachers from leaving rural areas by providing long-term solutions.

In response to insecurity in rural areas leading to school closures, the ministry, with support from UNICEF, has trained teachers and students on early warning signs of insecurity. The state government, in collaboration with the Federal Government, is deploying military personnel around schools in identified LGAs to enhance security for better learning.

Joy Oballum, a Senior Education Specialist with Oxford Policy Management, explained that the meeting aimed to review a recent research on teacher recruitment, deployment, and retention policy in Kaduna state. The research, funded by the UK Government under the ERIC consortium, seeks to understand and support children’s learning in conflicts and crisis-affected settings.

Shehu Usman, a Permanent Member II of the Kaduna State Teachers Service Board, stated that the research by Oxford Policy Management is crucial for addressing challenges and realigning the policy for the betterment of education in the state. The TSB has already recruited 7,600 teachers following the policy guidelines, which has been successful.

The study was funded by educational research in conflict and crisis-affected settings, led by the international rescue committee and funded by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Daily Nigerian