Jigawa State Launches Computer-Based Assessment for Teachers
The Jigawa House of Assembly has approved the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to conduct a Computer-Based Assessment Test (CBT) for 10,000 primary and junior secondary school teachers in the state. This initiative aims to evaluate the competence of educators and enhance the overall quality of education.
Professor Haruna Musa, the Executive Chairman of SUBEB, revealed this during an interview in Dutse. He emphasized that the CBT is part of efforts to address challenges related to teaching and learning poverty and improve educational outcomes in the region. According to him, the move aligns with the vision of Jigawa State Governor Malam Umar Namadi to create a more robust and effective education system.
Musa explained that the decision came after considering the significant investment made by the governor’s administration in the education sector. He highlighted the critical role of basic education and the ongoing challenges faced by teachers in the state.
“We have implemented several initiatives to tackle learning poverty,” he said. “While we are working to ensure that teachers who are absent from classes return to their duties, we are also focused on improving the quality of teaching.”
The plan involves conducting training sessions for all 10,000 teachers. To avoid redundancy, the CBT will be used to assess each teacher’s level of content knowledge and teaching skills, identifying areas that require improvement.
Musa clarified that the assessment is not intended to punish or inconvenience teachers but rather to enhance their professional development. He noted that the board has already briefed the State House of Assembly through the House Committee on Universal Basic Education, which supported the idea and granted approval. The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) was also informed and endorsed the initiative.
Categorization of Teachers Based on Competence
The SUBEB boss explained that teachers will be categorized into three groups based on their performance:
- Competent: Teachers who possess both content knowledge and teaching skills.
- Semi-competent: Teachers with content knowledge but lacking the necessary teaching skills.
- Incompetent: Teachers who lack both content knowledge and teaching skills.
This categorization is necessary due to limited resources, allowing the board to prioritize training efforts effectively. By dividing the teachers into phases, the government can utilize available funds to provide targeted support and improve teaching standards.
Musa assured that the state government does not intend to dismiss underperforming teachers. Instead, the focus will be on equipping them with the basic knowledge required to perform better and offering necessary support.
He emphasized that the government is deeply concerned about the issue of poor teaching standards and introduced the program to ensure that teachers in Jigawa can compete with those in other states.
Addressing Teacher Absenteeism
Musa also mentioned that reports of teacher absenteeism have raised concerns among local communities. He stressed that the government will not stand idle while teachers undermine its efforts. The initiative aims to restore discipline and ensure that teachers fulfill their responsibilities.
Additionally, the government plans to recruit an extra 3,000 teachers through the J-Teach Programme. This will increase the total number of teachers in primary and junior secondary schools across the state to 17,900.
Musa praised the current administration under Governor Namadi for its commitment to the education sector. He highlighted the governor's 12-point agenda, which prioritizes education and ensures support across various sectors as needed.