By Abdul Kareem

In an ambitious move to improve the quality of education in Borno State, Governor Babagana Zulum has announced the commencement of a landmark training program for 2730 teachers from 27 local government education authorities. They are spending one billion naira to achieve this.

Speaking at the College of Education, Waka-Biu, where a first phase of 1949 teachers are to commence the training, Governor Zulum expressed his satisfaction with the initiative, which stems from a comprehensive needs assessment conducted in 2021. 

The Governor recalled that on March 19th, 2024, the government approved one billion Naira (N1 billion) specifically for the professional development of 2,730 teachers. According to Zulum, these teachers are scheduled to participate in a three-month intensive training program. The training will take place at two institutions: the College of Education in Waka-Biu and the Umar Ibn Ibrahim Elkanemi College of Education, Science and Technology in Bama.

“It is with great pleasure and a profound sense of accomplishment that I address the future of Borno’s education today,” Governor Zulum said. “The training of nearly two thousand teachers marks a pivotal step towards elevating our educational standards to national levels.”

The initiative follows a competency test for teachers that revealed significant gaps in their abilities. Out of over 18,000 teachers verified, discrepancies in qualifications led to the discovery of 2,628 individuals with fraudulent certificates. The governor’s office has since taken decisive action to address these issues.

“This training initiative, valued at one billion Naira, is not just an investment in our teachers but in our children’s future,” explained Governor Zulum. 

“Every participant will receive this training free of charge, ensuring that financial constraints do not impede our progress.”

Teachers enrolled in the program will receive a monthly stipend of N30,000 in addition to their regular salaries. Furthermore, those undertaking the full-time National Certificate in Education (NCE) program will gain automatic in-service status.

Governor Zulum urged the teachers to take this opportunity seriously, emphasizing that “successful completion of the program is not just a personal achievement but a collective victory for the educational landscape of Borno State.”

The government’s commitment to education reform has been well-received, with many seeing it as a critical step towards rebuilding a state that has faced significant challenges in recent years.

Earlier, the Commissioner of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe,  highlighted pressing issues such as salary inconsistencies, challenges in teacher recruitment, and discrepancies in salaries among existing staff members. 

He emphasized the need for a comprehensive assessment of manpower needs and proposed the initiation of a Phase II teacher training program to further develop educational professionals.

“Our goal is to enhance the quality of education in Borno State and address the longstanding issues that have plagued the education sector for decades.” 

He urged participants to approach the training program with dedication and emphasized the importance of commitment to advancing education in the state.