The Jigawa State Government has employed 1,920 teachers under its J-Teach scheme as part of efforts to strengthen the state’s education workforce and improve access to quality teaching.
The recruitment comprises 1,100 teachers previously enrolled in the programme who completed the required training and selection process, as well as 820 newly recruited teachers who will undergo further capacity development.
Governor Umar Namadi, who presented appointment the letters to the beneficiaries on Friday, Namadi said the recruitment was part of his administration’s efforts to address shortages in the teaching workforce through sustained recruitment and strategic deployment.
The governor directed that postings and redeployments should reflect verified manpower needs, qualifications, merit, subject specialisation and performance.
He also ordered close monitoring of deployments to prevent imbalances in teacher distribution between urban and rural communities.
According to Namadi, the J-Teach programme has brought 7,500 workers into basic education since its introduction in 2023, while 3,000 beneficiaries have so far been converted to permanent and pensionable appointments.
The Commissioner for Higher Education, Science and Technology, Isa Chamo, said the latest recruitment was driven by identified shortages in secondary schools.
Chamo disclosed that more than 8,000 applicants competed for the 1,100 positions after undergoing training, screening, interviews and examinations.
He added that successful candidates were selected based on school-specific needs rather than a quota system.
The Commissioner for Basic Education, Lawan Danzomo, said J-Teach was created to address teacher shortages while providing qualified graduates with employment opportunities.
Danzomo explained that the programme also serves as a temporary pathway through which participants are assessed before becoming eligible for permanent and pensionable appointments.
He added that the state government had extended the employment model to other sectors through initiatives including J-Agro, J-Health, J-Justice and J-Technology.
One of the beneficiaries, Adam Adam, welcomed the recruitment, saying it had renewed the beneficiaries’ hope and confidence in their professional future.