Kaduna State Government has approved a career progression pattern that will enable teachers in the state’s secondary schools to rise to Grade Level 17 while still teaching in the classroom.

 

 

This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Samuel Aruwan, the Special Assistant to Governor Nasir el-Rufai on Media and Publicity on Sunday in Kaduna.

 

 

The statement said that professional teachers in the public service could progress to GL. 17 and enjoy all the allowances and privileges attached to the grade.

 

 

According to the statement, the Kaduna State Executive Council has approved the measure as part of efforts to strengthen teachers’ career development as well as boost their morale.

 

 

The statement said that the measure was aimed at revamping the standard of education in the state.

 

 

“Teachers who rise to level 17 will be addressed as Director-Tutors.

 

The gesture will allow teachers to bring their knowledge and experience to teaching specific subjects in secondary schools to bear on students.

 

Government hopes that the decision will halt the exodus of teachers from the classrooms and clamour to convert to other disciplines in search of greener posture.

 

The council’s approval for the teachers’ career progression is sequel to the promise of Gov. Nasir el-Rufai to ensure that teachers rise to the highest grade without having to stop teaching.

 

The retention of these experienced teachers will help in raising the standard of education in public secondary schools in the state,’’ the statement said.

 

 

The statement said that in order to strengthen education in Kaduna, the state executive council had also approved the establishment of six science secondary schools in different parts of the state.

 

 

The schools are expected to be financed by a USD17.3 million grant from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) with a USD3.8 million counterpart fund from the state government.

 

 

“The bank has approved the grant since 2009 and was meant for the establishment of four science secondary schools in the state.

 

The initiative was meant for the building and equipping of four science schools in different parts of the state to increase the number of science graduates from senior secondary schools in Kaduna State.

 

The project, which suffered delays over the years, is now to be fast-tracked and the state government has decided to increase to six, the number of science schools to be built.

 

The schools will be sited in Jere, Rigachikun, Manchok, Pambegua, Buruku, and Hunkuyi, while two of the sites previously identified were changed for several reasons.

 

A new school has already been constructed within the former project site at Koreye, while the site within the Millennium City is considered unsuitable for a boarding school, given that it is a business district,” the statement added.

 

 

Meanwhile, the state government has said that bidding for the contracts for the building of the six schools will begin afresh while the bank will be notified of the new development.

 

 

 

(NAN)