Sokoto state requires additional 9,000 teachers to meet the global standard of 1:40 teacher-pupil ratio in its classrooms at the primary school level, a government committee set up by Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has found out.
In addition, 11,863 more primary school classrooms are required to congest the existing ones in order to create a condusive atmosphere for learning.
Presenting an interim report to the Governor in Sokoto, chairman of the technical committee on state of emergency in education in the state, Professor Risqua Arabu Shehu, said with a total number 1,193,760 pupils enrolled at basic education level for the 2015/2016 academic session, the teacher-pupil/student ratio in Sokoto presently stands at 1:66.
According to the report, even though there is fairly a large percentage of teachers with high qualifications in primary schools, over 60% of them do not process the required certification to teach at basic education level, while about 60% of teachers in junior secondary schools are teaching in urban areas, leaving rural areas under staffed.
It added that there exist more teachers in arts and social sciences than sciences, English and Mathematics.
“Not more than 5% have recommended Computer Studies and Technical Trade textbooks. Again, only 11% of the students have relevant textbooks in Mathematics while less than 15% of them have mathematical items such as graph boards, protractors, compasses and geometrical materials (solid figures). Out of the 39 technical/commercial trades identified by the Federal Government as contained in the 2013 NPE, only 9 are being offered in the State’s Senior Secondary Schools,” the committee lamented.
As a way out of the problem, the committee urged the government to embark on recruitment of more teachers, with more emphasis on female teachers who will serve as role models, especially in rural areas. This, according to the committee, willencourage girl child education.
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