Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has flagged off the retraining of phase one of the 1,949 teachers that failed competency tests conducted by his administration in the state.
The teachers who were among the 15,823 that sat for the tests were due for retraining after the results showed that only 5,257 teachers across the state passed, 6,227 performed below the required pass mark but were considered trainable while 4,339 teachers were found to be untrainable.
Speaking at the ceremony held at Waka Biu College of Education in Biu LGA of the state, Zulum said about 1,949 primary and junior secondary school teachers would benefit from the first phase of the program while 2,730 would benefit in the subsequent program.
According to him, his administration has approved one billion naira for the training of the 2,730 teachers in two colleges of education namely College of Education Waka-Biu and Umar Ibm Ibrahim Elkanemi College of Education, Science and Technology, Bama.
“Precisely, on March 19th, 2024, the government approved the allocation of one bilion Naira (N1 billion) for the training of 2,730 teachers. These teachers will undergo training at the College of Education Waka-Biu and Umar Ibn Ibrahim Elkanemi College of Education, Science and Technology, Bama, for a three-month sandwich programme for 1,884 beneficiaries”.
“About 846 others who do not have tertiary qualification will undergo a full-time NCE programme”, he said.
Zulum who said the training was aimed to enhance the standard of education in Borno, added that apart from attending the training free of charge, N30,000 monthly allowances will be given to the teachers in addition to their salaries.
He further directed that each of the 846 that would be enrolled on a full-time NCE programme be placed on automatic in-service status.
Commenting over the gesture, Comrade Zali Audu Garba, Borno State National Union of Teachers (NUT) chairman, said the motive will help transform educational fortune of the state.
“Your Excellency, it is my candid belief that the education sector is undergoing a tremendous transformation, ranging from human and infrastructural development,” said Garba.
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