The Zamfara State Government has signed a series of executive orders introducing sweeping reforms in the education sector, alongside the distribution of the national curriculum to public schools as part of efforts to strengthen governance, improve learning outcomes and enhance school safety.
Governor Dauda Lawal unveiled the reforms on Wednesday during a meeting with education stakeholders at the Government House in Gusau, saying the new policy framework would transform education administration and prepare pupils for the demands of the 21st century.
A statement issued on Tuesday by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, said the executive orders establish an integrated governance framework covering education financing, school protection, classification, quality assurance, health and security.
According to the statement, the reforms also address school feeding, student welfare, transportation safety, implementation of the Safe Schools initiative, regulation of graduation ceremonies, unified examinations, school health services, merit-based leadership appointments, inclusive education, and the promotion of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Technical and Vocational Education and Training, and digital education.
Lawal described education as the foundation for sustainable development, saying the reforms go beyond infrastructure to strengthen institutions and improve accountability.
“Education is far more than a social service. It is the most powerful instrument for reducing poverty, promoting peace, strengthening security, stimulating economic growth, and preparing future generations to compete in an increasingly knowledge-driven world,” the governor said.
He added, “These Executive Orders are not isolated directives. Together, they constitute a comprehensive governance framework designed to strengthen school administration, improve accountability, protect public educational assets, enhance financing, promote safety, raise educational standards, improve learning outcomes, and prepare our children for the demands of the twenty-first century.”
The governor noted that while previous education reforms largely focused on infrastructure such as classrooms and laboratories, quality education also depends on effective governance, sound policies and improved service delivery.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Abdulmalik Abubakar Gajam, said sustainable education reforms require collaboration among governments, teachers, parents, communities, traditional institutions, development partners and the private sector.
“These reforms will not end with policy documents. They will be reflected in safer schools, stronger governance, healthier learners, improved teaching, better educational outcomes and greater public confidence in our education system,” Gajam said.
West Trybe reports that the reforms form part of the Zamfara State Government’s broader efforts to reposition the education sector through institutional reforms, improved school governance and expanded access to quality education amid ongoing investments in school infrastructure and human capital development.
