From Muawuya Bala Idris, Katsina
The Katsina State Government has unveiled new operational guidelines for the establishment and management of private and community schools across the state.
The ten-page document was presented on Monday during a stakeholders’ meeting organized by the State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.
The guidelines aim to coordinate and supervise the activities of 527 private schools and 300 community schools operating in the state.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Zainab Musa Musawa, said the guidelines were developed to strengthen the operations of private and community schools, as well as to foster collaboration with the state government in ensuring access to quality education for every child.
“The new operational guidelines are designed to create a transparent, efficient, and inclusive framework for school operations,” she stated.
Musawa added that the guidelines cover key areas such as infrastructure, curriculum delivery, teacher qualifications, student welfare, and compliance with both national and state educational policies.
“They are not meant to burden you, but to empower you to deliver quality education that prepares our children for a competitive world,” she said.
The commissioner directed all owners of private and community schools to carefully study the document and submit their inputs, assuring them that the government would consider their recommendations in the final implementation for the overall interest of the state’s education sector.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Private School Association, Isah Muhtar Jibia, described the new guidelines as the first of their kind in the state. He pledged the association’s full support for their implementation.
“We will study the guidelines and submit our input accordingly,” he added.
Our correspondent reports that during the stakeholders’ meeting, ministry officials and school proprietors held extensive discussions on the challenges facing the education sector and proposed measures to revive and improve it.