The Katsina State Government on Monday commenced a three-day training for 1,350 principals and their vice principals across the state ahead of the upcoming competency tests for them.

The training, held at the Federal College of Education, Katsina, was organized by the State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education in collaboration with the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) and Transforming Education System at State Level (TESS) Projects.

The training, facilitated by the Federal College of Education Katsina, is basically on effective leadership and Management of Secondary Schools in the State and was coming barely 27 days after the state government reacted to media reports that have portrayed the state?s performance in the 2024 National Examinations Council (NECO) results in a negative light.

Speaking in a media chat to sensitize the public on the upcoming competency tests for the principals and their vice, the State Commissioner for Education, Zainab Musawa noted that the test is aimed at not only strengthening the leadership structure within the ecosystem of education, but also to sanitizing and cleansing the system to avoid nepotism, favouritism and corrupt practices in secondary schools.

?We are here to also sensitize the general public on the need and the role we are playing and reason why it is necessary for us to conduct the test.

?The test is aimed at sanitizing and cleansing the system and to avoid nepotism, favouritism and corrupt practices in our schools, and to also strengthen the leadership structure within the ecosystem of education. And the nature of the program is for us to do a three-day training where we guide principals on curriculum implementation, leadership, national policies on education and execution of management of schools and to sensitize principals on the direction of the State Government where the Governor intends and how he wants to improve the education system.

?After this training, we are going to conduct an exam for the principals on the fourth day of the training where a CBT test will be done in partnership with JAMB.

?In total we have about 1,350 principals and this will also enable us to align our data existing for principals and vice principals in the State. This training has commenced without any hitch.

?We are also in need to see the potential principals and potential vice principals who will be captured into the system in case we have a vacant seat, or the state will automatically fill up that vacant seat.

?We have five centers here in Katsina, we have in Daura, we have in Dutsinma, we have in Malumfashi and we have in Funtua zones?, Musawa noted.

On Tuesday September 24, 2024, the State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education announced plans to conduct competency tests for all principals and vice principals of secondary schools across the state.

The outcomes of tests, according to the Commissioner in charge of the Ministry, Hon. Zainab Musawa, will guide reappointments and ensure a merit-based approach to school leadership, thereby promoting dedicated and sound leadership in the schools.

Disclosing this during a press briefing at her office in the Ministry, the commissioner also reacted to the recent media reports which she believed, have portrayed the state?s performance in the 2024 National Examinations Council (NECO) results in a negative light.

She revealed that the ministry also plans to reintroduce mandatory prep classes for all final-year students, whether boarding or day students, with special coaching arrangements in Mathematics and English language subjects.

She, therefore, explained that this initiative aims to better prepare students for their final exams and significantly improve their performance.

She noted that the Ministry remains dedicated to providing quality education to all students and ensuring that the future of Katsina State is bright. (Channels TV)