From Muawuya Bala Idris, Katsina
The Katsina State Government has commenced the distribution of appointment letters to 2,158 newly recruited teachers for the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
Speaking during the ceremony in Katsina, Governor Dikko Umar Radda said the recruitment followed a rigorous, transparent, and merit-based process designed to ensure that qualified teachers are deployed to schools where they are most needed.
He said the exercise aligns with his administration’s development agenda, “Building Your Future,” which focuses on sustained investment in human capital.
“Today marks another important milestone in our administration’s unwavering commitment to rebuilding and repositioning the education sector in Katsina State.
“It reflects our determination to fulfil the promise of our development agenda by investing in our people and equipping our young generation with quality education,” the governor said.
Radda described education as the most powerful instrument for societal transformation, stressing that investment in education remains a strategic investment in the future of Katsina State.
The governor recalled that his administration recruited and deployed 7,323 teachers in 2023, alongside the employment of over 1,800 healthcare personnel across primary and secondary healthcare facilities this year.
According to him, the latest recruitment is another decisive step towards strengthening human capital development and ensuring access to quality education for every child in the state.
He highlighted several interventions in the education sector, including the construction of more than 49 junior and senior secondary schools, the establishment of three special smart schools, rehabilitation of over 340 primary schools, provision of instructional materials, payment of public examination fees, teacher training programmes, and digital learning initiatives.
He also disclosed that over 25,000 teachers have received training, while the government introduced a N30,000 rural teachers’ allowance, distributed 18,000 digital tablets, provided electronic motorcycles for teachers in hard-to-reach communities, and established a Centre for Teacher Development and Training.
Radda noted that for the first time in the state’s history, teacher recruitment was conducted based on the staffing needs of individual schools and subject requirements.
“The recruitment exercise was deliberately designed to be transparent, merit-based and inclusive. For the first time in the history of our state, teacher recruitment was conducted based on actual staffing needs of individual schools and subject requirements,” he stated.
He congratulated the successful applicants and urged them to justify the confidence reposed in them through dedication, professionalism, and integrity.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Hon. Yusuf Suleiman Jibia, said the exercise demonstrated the administration’s commitment to transparency and education development.
He disclosed that 64,598 applicants applied, 8,889 were shortlisted after screening, 3,683 passed the CBT and oral interview stages, and 2,158 were finally selected.
“The recruitment was entirely merit-based. No public office holder interfered in the process, while deployment was based on staffing needs and subject specialisation,” he said.
The Executive Chairman of SUBEB, Dr. Kabir Magaji, commended the governor for prioritising education through massive investment in recruitment, infrastructure, and training.
Speaking on behalf of the newly recruited teachers, Ashiru Nura said he had no prior connection in government before receiving the appointment and expressed gratitude to the governor for the opportunity.
He urged fellow beneficiaries to remain dedicated, transparent, and committed to their duties in strengthening the education sector.
