By Salim Umar Ibrahim, Kano
Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje says the success recorded in the implementation of free and compulsory basic education by his administration is because Kano leads other States in accessing matching grants from Universal Basic Education Commission.
The Governor represented by his Deputy Dr.Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, revealed this Tuesday while receiving the executive members of the Kano State chapter of the Association of Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools of Nigeria in his office.
In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Hassan Musa Fagge, he explained that through accessing the matching grants his administration has built new classroom blocks and provided teaching and learning materials for schools as part of the free and compulsory basic education policy of his government.
Ganduje emphasized that his administration has given priority to the education sector because no any society can progress without qualitative education,that is why it collaborated with the National Teachers Institute to train about 25,000 teachers in the State in order to enhance professionalism.
The Governor while commending members of the Kano State chapter of the Association of Academic Staff Union Secondary Schools for their cooperation, assured them that the State Government will continue to give them all the necessary support needed for the success of their work.
The State Chairman of the Association of Academic Staff Union Secondary Schools, Comrade Abdullahi Usman Yalo said they paid the visit to commend Kano State Government for its foresight and laudable policies in the education sector particularly the redeployment of some civil servants who possessed education qualifications to teaching cadre which he described as right step in the right direction.
He added that the redeployment policy has increased the number of teaching staff of schools in the State, infact. Presently, “there is no subject offered that has no teacher.”
He further appreciates the effort of the State Government for promoting some School Principals to Directorship level,increasing the working and retirement years for teaching to 40 and 65 years respectively and also for increasing number of Zonal Education Offices from 14 to 23 which said will ensure smooth coordination of the Secondary Schools.