Gov Idris flags off distribution of N3.2 Billion learning materials, to recruit more Teachers
By: John Bassey, kebbi.
In another major milestone in the basic education sector of Kebbi State, the Governor, Comrade Dr. Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu, has flagged off the distribution of literacy and numeracy textbooks, digital tablets, school improvement grants, writing materials, motorcycles, and also inaugurated 21 Local Government Education Authority, LGEAs, Chairmen.
The event, which took place on Wednesday at the Banquet Hall, Presidential Lodge, Birnin Kebbi, marked the formal rollout of learning materials and infrastructure of over ₦3.2 billion to public schools across the state.
The governor described the gesture as part of his administration’s ongoing commitment to reforming and repositioning the education sector in Kebbi State.
While addressing the gathering, Governor Idris reaffirmed that education remains the second most important sector in his administration after agriculture.
He announced plans to recruit another set of qualified teachers to further strengthen the teaching workforce in addition to the 2,000 teachers already employed and posted to various schools across the state.
According to him, “Kebbi is not only an agrarian state, it is also an education-focused state. ‘That is why when I assumed duty two years ago, I declared a state of emergency in the education sector. Today, we are witnessing massive transformation across our primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions.”
The governor stated that Kebbi operates a free education system and that within two years, his administration has constructed and renovated over 2,000 schools statewide. He noted that the extension of years of service for retirement for teachers was an initiative he personally championed, which led to national policy, adoption after his consultation with late President Muhammadu Buhari.
He also disclosed that his administration has recruited 5,000 graduates into the health, education, and judiciary sectors.
Governor Idris revealed that professors were carefully selected and appointed as LGEA Chairmen to ensure effective management and delivery of quality education at the grassroots.
He pledged that all Chairmen would be provided with official vehicles and their allowances would be doubled to enhance their productivity.
He expressed satisfaction with the performance of public school pupils, noting that their excellence has vindicated public schools, particularly against criticism that private schools were superior.
The Commissioner for Basic Education, Dr. Halima Muhammad Bande, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, underscored the importance of basic education and called on stakeholders to make the best use of the distributed materials for the development of learners across the state.
In his address, the Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Professor Sulaiman Khalid, commended Governor Idris for his unparalleled investment in basic education.
He listed the various interventions that constitute the “hardware” of the education system, including the construction and renovation of over 1,000 classrooms, four mega schools in Argungu, Birnin Kebbi, Yauri, and Zuru; provision of boreholes, toilets, perimeter fencing, and procurement of 18,582 units of furniture for students and teachers.
Professor Khalid also highlighted the “software” aspect of the governor’s investment, teaching and learning materials, teacher recruitment, and ongoing professional development.
According to him, the materials distributed at the event include 1,722,372 copies of foundational literacy and numeracy textbooks procured at a cost of ₦2,714,069,120.00; 750 tablets for head teachers for digital attendance and school record-keeping at ₦112,500,000.00; school improvement grants of ₦200,000.00 each to 646 School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs), totaling ₦129,200,000.00; writing materials worth ₦64,459,570.00; and monitoring vehicles and motorcycles worth ₦213,680,000.00, making the total value of the intervention ₦3,233,908,690.00.
‘Furthermore, the administration has trained 18,651 teachers, school support officers, and administrators through various programs including Early Child Development, Jolly Phonics, Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL), Effective School Training, SMASE, and STEP.
‘The appointment of university professors from Kebbi State as LGEA Chairmen in their respective local governments was described as unprecedented in Nigeria.
‘These wide-ranging investments have yielded results, with Kebbi State emerging as one of the top-performing states in the National Assessment on Learning Achievement in Basic Education (NALABE).
‘In Mathematics, 37.43% of Primary 3 learners exceeded minimum proficiency compared to the national average of 18.45%. In English, 50.91% met proficiency compared to the national average of 33.78%. The state also recorded high proficiency in Basic Science and Technology and Social Studies, surpassing national averages in Primary 5 and Junior Secondary School 2’.
He further said governor Idris’s commitment to improving education in Kebbi is evident in these outcomes, which reflect the positive impact of focused governance and strategic investment in the future of the state.
Highlights of the event included the inauguration of LGEA Chairmen, presentation of cheques to schools, and the distribution of motorcycles for school monitoring and supervision.
Goodwill messages were delivered by Hon. Garba Bena, Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education; Professor Muhammad Bagudo on behalf of LGEA Chairmen; and Dr. Isyaku Abdullahi Easy, Deputy Rector of Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic, all of whom commended Governor Idris for his outstanding contributions to the education sector.
