Borno State Government, has officially launched the Phase IV Special Teacher Training program in Bama on Friday.
This initiative aims to train 1,181 teachers from 15 Local Government Areas (LGAs) as part of broader efforts to improve the quality of teaching and learning in the state’s basic and primary education system.
The program is also a key component of the “Build-Back-Borno-Better” initiative, which seeks to aid the state’s recovery from years of insurgency by focusing on educational development.
The Honorable Commissioner for Education, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe, spoke at the launch, reaffirming the state’s strong commitment to transforming the educational landscape.
He highlighted the government’s investment of 2 billion naira in comprehensive teacher training as a testament to its dedication.
As part of this program, each participating teacher will receive a monthly stipend of 30,000 naira during their training, along with a one-time take-off allowance of 50,000 naira.
These financial incentives are designed to support the teachers as they undergo training and professional development.
Engr. Ibrahim Baba, the State Project Coordinator for AGILE, the program’s sponsoring partner, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative.
He acknowledged AGILE’s ongoing support for teacher training programs across various LGAs in Borno and praised the state government for moving forward with the full implementation of this important training initiative.
“We are pleased to witness the full implementation of this vital training program,” Engr. Baba said, noting that this effort will have a lasting positive impact on education in the state.
Prof. Bulama Kagu, Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), also spoke at the event. He praised the efforts of Governor Babagana Zulum in making teacher development a priority, alongside the ongoing investments in educational infrastructure.
Prof. Kagu emphasized that SUBEB would ensure that effective monitoring measures are put in place to track the success of the training and assess its impact on the quality of education across the state.
During the event, the Commissioner for Education, Engr. Wakilbe, announced a significant policy shift regarding teachers who had previously failed competency tests in earlier training phases.
A total of 2,457 teachers who did not meet the required standards will no longer be teaching but will instead be reassigned to alternative roles within local councils.
This decision underscores the importance the state government places on teacher competency and the need for highly qualified educators in its schools.
The training program has also received strong support from labor unions. Representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) praised the state government for its continued efforts to improve the welfare of teachers.
Among these efforts is the implementation of a minimum wage of 30,000 naira for all qualified teachers, which is expected to boost morale and motivation among the teaching workforce.
The Shehu of Bama, His Royal Highness Alhaji (Dr.) Umar Kyari Umar El-Kanemi, also gave his endorsement of the program during the event.
He commended the state government’s investment in teacher training, describing it as a vital step toward restoring the region’s rich educational tradition. In his address, the Shehu urged the teachers undergoing training to take their roles seriously and approach the training with dedication, reminding them of the significant impact they will have on the future of education in the state.
The launch event concluded with a symbolic presentation of a cheque worth 297,332,566.38 naira to the Provost of the University of Ilorin Institute of Education and Continuing Studies, Bama (UIECEST).
This financial backing represents a major commitment to the success of the program, as it will ensure that the necessary resources are in place to support the teachers’ training.
