Civil Society, Media, Policymakers Partner with Tsangaya Board and Ministry of Basic Education to Address Jigawa’s Education Challenges

By Ali Ali Rabiu Jigawa

Civil society organizations, media representatives, and policymakers in Jigawa State have pledged to tackle critical education issues, including teacher shortages and out-of-school children (OOSC), while strengthening accountability. During a two-day roundtable organized by Beta Nigeria, stakeholders discussed strategies to implement the Teacher Recruitment, Deployment, Replacement, and Management Policy 2021, improve teacher incentives, and promote community-led initiatives like volunteer teaching.

Efforts to reduce OOSC focused on integrating Tsangaya schools into the formal education system, engaging local leaders, and using mass-media campaigns to drive awareness. Beta Nigeria’s Digital Community Influencers developed nine social media videos and curated visuals to amplify advocacy efforts, laying the foundation for year-long campaigns in 2025.

The Permanent Secretary of the Jigawa Ministry of Basic Education (JMBE) pledged support for implementing the teacher recruitment policy, while the Executive Secretary of the Tsangaya Education Board (JTEB) sought collaboration to integrate formal education into the Tsangaya system. This includes conducting a school census for OOSC and leveraging digital advocacy tools.

Beta Nigeria plans to sustain digital campaigns through its influencer network and lead advocacy visits to JMBE and JTEB to implement agreed actions, advancing education reforms across Jigawa State.