By ABBAS BAMALLI

The Katsina State Government has announced the introduction of a N30,000 termly allowance for the teachers posted to rural areas across the state.

This followed an approval by the state executive council at its 18th regular meeting presided over by Gov. Dikko Radda on Wednesday in Katsina.

The state’s Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman-Jibia revealed this to newsmen in Katsina on Thursday.

Suleiman-Jibia said that the allowance to be given every term, would bolster commitment among the teachers and reduce their burden.

According to him, the council also approved the establishment of Teachers’ Development’ Training Centres across Katsina, Daura and Funtua Zones.

Yusuf-Jibia added that the centres were intended to improve the capacity of Primary and Secondary school teachers through capacity building training.

He stated that resource persons would be sourced from the higher institutions of learning, and some retired educationists in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the decision to introduce the allowance was endorsed at a summit in September, organised by Save the Children International (SCI), and funded by Education Cannot Wait (ECW).

At the summit to mark the international day to protect education from attack, Hajiya Raliya Yusuf, Director of Schools, Senior, in the ministry, said that the aim was to encourage them to accept posting, especially to areas with recurring security challenges.

Yusuf explained that it was worrisome to see that many teachers always want to remain within the urban areas, leaving the rural areas with very few teachers.

She said that the ministry was doing everything possible to solve the problem, expressing confidence that the introduction of the allowance would assist.

In reaction to this, SCI commended the state government for the initiative, saying that it marked a significant step toward strengthening the education sector across the state.

Mrs Atine Lewi, the SCI Programme Manager said, “As an organisation working to improve education outcomes in Katsina, we recognise how impactful this support will be.

“This incentive will not only encourage greater commitment among teachers but also motivate them to remain in remote communities where their presence is most crucial.”

According to the SCI programme manager, these interventions reflected a purposeful and forward-looking approach to education reforms. (NAN)

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