Katsina Katsina state Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, has called on retired primary and secondary school teachers who are still active to give at least one hour of their time, in a week, and teach in their primary or secondary school alma mata.
Th e governor, who made the call at the weekend, said with the abundance of highly qualifi ed retired teachers the state had the potential to see Katsina State regain its lost status as the torch bearer in terms of education in the North.
He observed that as much as 70% of active and retired civil servants in the state had teaching background such that if everyone or most of them volunteer one hour of their free time in the classroom, the acute defi cit in teaching staff , estimated at about 13,000, in the state will surely be drastically reduced.
Th e governor said that in the last two years his administration had spent at least N10 billion in the education sector, with emphasis on the foundation level of the sector.
He also said that no less than N3 billion would still be spent on the sector before the end of the year.
Governor Masari took a swipe at his fellow travellers, politicians saying that they are not helping the system by their penchant for high elective offi ces even when many lack the requisite experience to be councillors in their local governments.
He attributed failure of the system to adequately address the aspiration of the electorate to the inexperience of elected offi ce holders, many of who came on the job totally unprepared and therefore overwhelmed by the challenges of the new offi ces they assumed.
He therefore urged aspiring politicians to “always allow themselves to learn to crawl before they attempt to walk”, saying that they should endeavour to learn the rope of politics before they seek for high profi le offi ces.
Th e governor extended President Muhammadu Buhari’s sincere appreciation for their relentless prayers in Mosques, Churches and other places of worship for his health while he was on sick leave in the United Kingdom.
