From Muawuya Bala Idris, Katsina
The Katsina State Government has introduced a special allowance for primary school teachers posted to rural communities, in a move aimed at boosting morale and improving educational outcomes.
The Executive Chairman of the Katsina State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Kabir Magaji Gafiya, disclosed this in an interview with journalists.
He added that the board has also instituted a merit award to recognize and reward outstanding teachers across the state.
Dr. Gafiya further revealed that the government has begun constructing residential quarters for teachers, particularly those serving in rural areas where accommodation remains a major challenge.
He said 20 houses have already been completed and will soon be allocated to teachers. He noted that the housing project will be executed in phases to cover all parts of the state.
To improve the quality of education, the board has also organized a series of training sessions for about 18,000 primary school teachers selected from all 34 local government areas.
According to him, the training will be a continuous exercise, with funds already set aside in the 2025 budget for this purpose.
“In the last two years, the board has constructed and renovated over 2,950 schools and provided them with teaching and learning materials,” Dr. Gafiya said.
He also disclosed that 17 motorcycles have been procured and distributed to education officials to enhance the monitoring and inspection of schools across the state.
On Qur’anic education, Dr. Gafiya said 700 teachers have been recruited and deployed to 1,700 Qur’anic schools to introduce basic western education subjects.
He added that the board is working closely with the National Commission for Almajiri Education to provide essential facilities, including water and instructional materials, to Qur’anic schools.
Addressing security concerns, the SUBEB Chairman stated that the government has successfully reopened 60 schools previously shut down due to bandit activities in the affected areas.
