Borno: Kwaya Kusar to conduct competency test for 400 teachers
Kwaya Kusar Local Government Area of Borno has announced plans to conduct a competency test for 400 teachers to ensure quality teaching in schools.
Dr Salihu Ibrahim, the Education Secretary of the council, stated this in Kwaya Kusar town in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday.
Ibrahim said the initiative was to sustain ongoing efforts at improving the quality of teaching as well as enhancing service delivery in Kwaya Kusar schools.
He stated that with the efforts of the Borno government in boosting school enrollment, the best way to complement such effort was to improve the quality of teaching.
According to him, the assessment will be conducted during the new academic calendar, adding that teachers who have deficiencies would be assessed, identified and documented for targeted intervention and training.
“We are not going to compromise on quality because that is the only way we can protect the future of those being sent to school for learning.
“If the state government under Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno State is doing a lot to boost school enrollment, we must complement at the local government level to ensure our pupils get the best.
“This is why we organised the first education summit in the council to improve teaching and service delivery generally, because the future of Kwaya Kusar children is important to us.
“I have discussed with Hon. Dahiru Hamma, the council chairman, how to assist such teachers who are not competent enough by training them intensively, and he is fully in support.
“After the series of training, anyone who falls below the standard will be given release letters to go back to school since we have a College of Education in Biu,” he said.
Ibrahim said under the Zulum administration, primary school teachers were earning from N70,000 to N150,000, saying “they have been motivated enough to give their best.”
According to him, with the provision of free school materials for pupils and a good salary structure for teachers, there is no reason for pupils to be out of school and for teachers not to give their best.
Ibrahim urged parents whose children were yet to begin school to enrol their children, confirming that the council has received all the necessary materials from the state government for onward distribution to pupils.
“For parents, just come with your children; we will enrol them, give them uniforms, books, bags and other items for free; so no financial burden on them,” he said.
The education secretary said that measures have been put in place to ensure that no child roams the street during school hours.
