The Jigawa State Government has converted 1,200 former J-TEACH personnel to permanent and pensionable status and recruited additional 820 youths under the J-TEACH programme as part of efforts to address teacher shortages across the state
The state government also distributed 450 bicycles donated by Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) to pupils and students who travel long distances to schools in hard-to-reach communities
Governor Umar Namadi disclosed this on Friday while presenting appointment letters to beneficiaries and handing over the bicycles at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Dutse
Namadi said the appointments were designed to address inherited gaps in pupil-teacher and student-teacher ratios, particularly in underserved rural communities
He said the 2,020 beneficiaries comprised 1,200 former J-TEACH personnel who had successfully completed the required training and selection process and 820 newly recruited personnel joining the programme
According to him, the initiative was not only aimed at strengthening the teaching workforce but also at creating jobs and sustainable livelihoods for qualified young people in the state
The governor said the intervention complemented recent government efforts in the education sector, including the distribution of school uniforms, bags and writing materials to thousands of learners across the state
He stressed that education remained central to his administration’s vision for a “Greater Jigawa”, noting that quality education was essential for individuals and communities to prosper in an increasingly technology-driven world
“Investments in classrooms, furniture, instructional materials, technology and school governance must be matched by enough qualified, motivated and properly supported teachers,” he said
Namadi said his administration had deliberately expanded the teaching workforce since 2023 through the J-TEACH pathway
He explained that 7,500 personnel had been brought into basic education through the programme, with 3,000 subsequently converted to permanent and pensionable appointments after training and competitive selection
At the post-basic level, he said nearly 2,000 personnel had entered through the same programme, with 1,000 later securing permanent status
Namadi added that the government had also deployed more than 2,100 graduate teachers and employed about 600 teaching and non-teaching staff for Mega Schools and other boarding senior secondary schools across the state
He directed the Ministry of Higher Education, its agencies and school administrators to ensure that the latest appointments translated into measurable improvements in schools
Namadi said postings and redeployments must be based on verified needs, relevant qualifications, merit, subject specialisation and performance, with particular attention to preventing renewed imbalances between urban and rural schools
He urged the newly appointed teachers to demonstrate punctuality, discipline, competence and compassion, while embracing training and accepting deployment to areas where their services were most needed
The governor also commended teachers for their resilience and dedication to educating children, saying the government would continue to support them through induction, mentoring, supervision and fair performance assessment
On the 450 bicycles donated by GTB, Namadi said the gesture would reduce the burden of long-distance journeys to school and improve punctuality, attendance and retention among beneficiaries
He commended the bank for supporting the government’s efforts to improve access to education through its corporate social responsibility initiative
The governor called on traditional and religious leaders, parents and communities to support the newly appointed teachers and hold them accountable for results
Some of the newly appointed workers expressed appreciation to the state government, pledging to abide by civil service rules and regulations and remain accountable in the discharge of their duties