Zamfara Govt Approves Major Reforms in Education Sector 

Zamfara Govt Approves Major Reforms in Education Sector 

Zamfara State Executive Council has approved far-reaching policy measures and strategic interventions aimed at fully operationalizing the State of Emergency on Education declaration made in 2023.

The approval was given during the council’s meeting on Monday, chaired by Governor Dauda Lawal, after a review of the memoranda by the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Abdulmalik Abubakar Gajam.

The memoranda outlined urgent reforms required to reposition the education sector for efficiency, equity, and sustainable development.

Part of the approval was for the establishment of a high-level, multi-sectoral Steering Committee to drive the implementation of the State of Emergency on Education policy.

The Committee will be chaired by the education commissioner, with members from key Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, including Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Local Government, Justice, and all critical parastatals.

Also, the council has approved submissions on schools security, students welfare, infrastructure and institutional development, teacher capacity and welfare, governance and data management, curriculum, equity, and specialized education.

“This approval provides, for the first time, a unified governance structure to translate the 2023 declaration into measurable and time-bound outcomes,” the Commissioner for Education said.

Similarly, the government gave the go ahead for the implementation of a 120-Day Rapid Intervention Action Plan designed as a stabilization and reset framework for the education sector.

The plan targets critical areas including Out-of-school children reduction, payroll cleansing and staff rationalization, rehabilitation of 20 model schools,teacher training and capacity development, digital education systems and data management, school feeding and student welfare programmes.

Gajam said “this intervention aligns with global best practices and is expected to deliver immediate, visible improvements while laying the foundation for long-term reforms.

In response to alarming findings from field assessments, the state executive council has ordered the constitution of a joint committee to identify and remove illegal structures around schools across the state, secure schools environment and protect students from criminal and social risks.

The meeting approved immediate ban on the “indiscriminate auctioning of school assets pending the development of a transparent asset management framework.

“These measures are aimed at restoring safety, dignity, and order within school environments.”

Meanwhile, the Council has approved the allocation of land for the construction of a modern Computer-Based Testing (CBT) Center in partnership with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

This is to ensure that Zamfara State students are fully prepared for the transition to digital examinations and are not disadvantaged in national assessments.

As part of the reforms, the Council okayed the transfer of non-teaching staff from the Ministry’s payroll to appropriate Ministries, Departments, Agencies, or private service providers.

The move is expected to improve payroll efficiency and transparency, refocus education spending on teaching and learning, and maintain job security while enhancing administrative efficiency.

Other approvals included the domestication of Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) Career Path Policy, which established competency-based framework for teacher progression.

An Implementation Committee has also been approved to oversee the rollout of this policy across the State.

In a related development, the Zamfara State Executive Council has granted approval for the development of a Single, Unified Education Sector Law covering Early Childhood to Tertiary Education.

The proposed law will harmonize mandates across all education agencies, eliminate duplication and inefficiencies, strengthen governance and accountability, and enable faster and more coordinated emergency response actions.

Speaking on the approvals, Gajam said the decisions mark a turning point in the history of education in Zamfara State.

“These approvals mark the transition from policy declaration to full-scale implementation. We now have the governance structure, the operational framework, and the political will to rescue, rebuild, and reposition education in our state,” he stated.

According to him, the next phase will focus on rapid execution, transparency, and measurable impact across all levels of education.