Traditional and religious leaders, principals, teachers, and other education stakeholders in Bauchi State have been engaged in changing the abysmal challenges of education, especially those of the girl-child.
The engagement was made by the North-East Development Commission (NEDC), which funded the Accelerated Senior Secondary Education Programme (ASSEP), which is being implemented by the Office of the Vice President and across the six states of the sub-region.
Speaking at a state level of engagement with stakeholders, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Regional Development Programme, Office of the Vice President, Dr Mariam Masha said that the meeting was aimed at sharing experiences for the successful implementation of the project in the State.
Mariam Masha also said that another key focus is to increase the number of children getting into tertiary institutions by compressing the existing curriculum to accommodate all components of the programme including vocational skills training, and the adoption of modern teaching methods through the use of Visual Intelligence among others.
In a remark, the State Commissioner of Education, Dr Jamila Dahiru restated the present administration’s commitment to educational transformation at all levels.
She emphasised the critical role of the participants in pushing for a better narrative especially as it relates to transparency and accountability.
On his part, an officer with the NEDC, Office of the Vice President, Mahmud Muhammad said that the Commission is ever ready to provide all the resources needed to train the stakeholders in all components of the programme so as to achieve the set objectives.
In a goodwill message, the Bauchi State President, All Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Malam Rabiu Shehu said that both teachers and students have started seeing the outcome of the programme.
He promised that ANCOPSS will do everything possible to consolidate on the efforts made by the implementers to ensure sustainability.
Bauchi State ASSEP Focal Person, Hajiya Ladi Muhammad Hamma said that, so far, 120 teachers from 10 selected Females Secondary Schools within the metropolis have been trained on advanced teaching method using Visual Intelligence for improved teaching and learning, enrolment and better performance in exit examinations.
Ladi Hamma also said that, already the NEDC has sponsored the training of English, Mathematics, Biology, Physics, Agriculture and Chemistry Teachers by one million teachers, an online training platform in the pilot phase of the programme.
Some of the participants who spoke to Journalists expressed commendation for the introduction of the programme which they believe will positively impact on the delivery process of teaching and learning in the state.
