Kebbi Commissioner Calls for More Qualified Teachers

Kebbi State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Halima Bande, has expressed concern over the shortage of teachers in the state's education sector. Bande revealed that a recent census conducted across schools in Kebbi State exposed alarming imbalances, including over 700 teachers teaching a single subject in one school, while some subjects have only one teacher in the entire state.

Speaking at her office in Birnin Kebbi, after receiving an award of commendation from the Women's Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) for her resilience in ensuring qualified teacher recruitment, Dr. Bande highlighted the pressing need for the state government to recruit more teachers to adequately address the educational needs of students.

"We conducted a census of both pupils and teachers, including a breakdown of teachers by subject area. The findings were concerning, with certain subjects being severely understaffed. In response, we presented this report to the Governor, Dr. Nasir Idris, who has graciously approved the recruitment of 2,000 additional teachers to address these gaps," she stated.

Dr. Bande further emphasized the importance of employing only qualified teachers, noting that the current administration has remained steadfast in ensuring that only candidates with an educational background are recruited. She credited Governor Nasir Idris, who is also a former teacher, for supporting this initiative and for his commitment to rehabilitating schools and retraining both new and existing teachers.

The Executive Director of WRAPA, Comrade Nasir Idris, praised Dr. Bande's leadership, noting that the ministry's efforts align with WRAPA's Accountability for Good Governance in Education (AGGE) project, which prioritizes the selection of credible and qualified teachers. He added that WRAPA's project is supported by Palladium Scale and aims to elevate Kebbi State’s educational standards.

This development reflects the government's commitment to addressing the longstanding challenges in the education sector, ensuring that Kebbi State schools are staffed with capable and well-trained educators.