Plans are underway for the conduct of competency examinations for principals, headteachers and others in Niger State to sanitise the state’s education system.
  
Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Hadiza Mohammed, announced this while interacting with principals and headteachers in public schools of Zone A.
  
Asabe hinted that the examination would not only sensitise the system, but would also pave the way for recruitment of professional teachers to fill the vacant spaces in schools.
  
She said: “The governor is willing to improve the wages and welfare of the teachers; hence, the need for them to put in their best in providing quality education to the students.”
  
The commissioner cautioned the principals to be proactive and disciplined while discharging their functions. She also warned them to desist from extorting students and parents.
  
“The ministry is working round the clock to provide an enabling environment for learners and teachers for better quality education, leveraging World Bank’s Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project, which will provide 54 new equipped schools across the state,” the commissioner stated.
  
She assured the teachers that the lingering issue of promotion, training and retraining would be addressed soonest.
  
According to her, the state government will, from next year, commence allocation of monthly imprest to all principals, to address some of the challenges confronting their activities.
  
The commissioner had earlier paid homage to the Etsu Nupe, Dr Yahaya Abubakar, at his Wadata Palace in Bida, where she told the monarch of the government’s plans to take stringent measures in changing the narratives in the education sector.
  
Responding, the Etsu Nupe lauded the efforts of Governor Mohammed Bago’s administration towards improving the standard of education in the state