AS part of efforts to boost the morale of teachers in Kaduna, the state government has said that those in public schools can now rise to grade level 17 salary structure and enjoy the same entitlements with their counterparts in the Ministry of Education.

Teachers who rise to that grade level will now be addressed as Director-Tutor, and are expected to bring their knowledge and experience to teaching specific subjects in secondary schools.

The state Executive Council approved the career enhancement for teachers in the state as part of efforts to revamp education and raise the morale of teachers.

Commissioner for Education, Dr. Shehu Usman Adamu, explained in a statement issued at the weekend that, “Council approval of this career progression for teachers followed the promise of Governor
Nasir El-Rufai, to ensure that teachers can rise to the highest grade level without having to stop teaching,” adding that, “the retention of these experienced teachers would help in raising standards in public secondary schools in the state.”

He said that steps to implement the policy began in August 2015, when the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Balarabe Abbas Lawal, notified the Head of Service that the government has approved the extension of the terminal grade for teachers from Grade Level 16 to 17.

The Commissioner for Education also disclosed that six science secondary schools are to be built in the state, adding that, “the Kaduna State Executive Council has approved the six sites for the schools, which are to be financed by a $17.3 million loan from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).”

Under the loan facility, he explained that Kaduna State Government will contribute counterpart funding of $3.8 million.