FLASH POINT

By Aliyu Mohammed

In line with the high premium placed on education by His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Dr. Uba Sani, Kaduna State has recorded remarkable progress in improving the quality and standard of education. This commitment is clearly reflected in the consistent allocation of the largest share of the state budget to the education sector—25 percent in 2025 and an increased 26.14 percent in 2026—underscoring the administration’s resolve to build a sustainable and competitive education system.

Beyond funding, the Kaduna State Government has implemented far-reaching institutional reforms, particularly through the Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority (KSSQAA), resulting in measurable and visible improvements across the education sector.

A major milestone has been the comprehensive reorganization of education quality assurance across all 23 Local Government Areas. This reform established a functional, accountable, and statewide monitoring framework that strengthened oversight, ensured uniform standards, and promoted consistency in school supervision. Education monitoring is now structured, professional, and focused on continuous improvement rather than arbitrary assessment, significantly raising the quality of teaching and learning across the state.

To enhance effectiveness and professionalism, the state government introduced monthly monitoring allowances and operational funding for Education Quality Assurance Officers. This intervention boosted morale, restored professionalism, and improved field performance. In addition, the procurement of 50 monitoring motorcycles has enabled Quality Assurance Officers to consistently access rural, remote, and hard-to-reach schools that were previously underserved.

The Quality Assurance Board also automated over 20 monitoring tools and processes, eliminating manual bottlenecks and improving efficiency, transparency, and accountability. This digital transformation enhanced data accuracy, reduced delays, and strengthened the overall integrity of the quality assurance system.

In keeping with global best practices, the Kaduna State Government digitized private school registration and licensing, introducing QR-coded licenses and certificates alongside GPS geo-mapping of over 3,600 private schools statewide. This initiative ensured that only genuinely existing schools were captured, provided verifiable data on facilities, and strengthened regulation and compliance within the private education sector.

Examination integrity has equally received major attention. In May 2025, Kaduna State introduced a Hybrid Computer-Based Test (CBT) for the Junior Secondary Certificate Examination (JSCE), positioning the state ahead of the national policy mandating CBT for graduating classes from 2026. The introduction of QR-coded examination certificates has further curbed fraud and enhanced verification, restoring public confidence in examination outcomes.

Recognizing that sustainable reform depends on human capacity, over 800 teachers and Quality Assurance Officers have been trained through partnerships with AGILE, PLANE, ROOSC, UNICEF, and Save the Children. These capacity-building programmes strengthened instructional quality, improved supervision, and enhanced monitoring across both public and private schools.

In another notable achievement, the Quality Assurance Board ensured the release of BECE results before school resumption for three consecutive years (2023–2025). This marked a clear departure from past delays, improved academic planning, and ensured a smooth transition of students to the next level.

These milestones are a product of the visionary leadership of Governor Uba Sani, who appointed a capable and experienced Director-General to lead the Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority in line with the administration’s SUSTAIN Agenda.

The leadership of Professor Usman Abubakar Zaria, Director-General of KSSQAA, has been instrumental in translating policy into impactful action. His strategic direction, professionalism, and hands-on leadership have driven reforms in school monitoring, examination integrity, digital transformation, capacity building, and national recognition.

As a result, Kaduna State has earned national prominence in education quality assurance, including membership in four strategic WAEC committees, hosting the 62nd WAEC Annual General Meeting in 2024, and hosting the maiden FEQAS National Quality Assurance Policy Meeting in 2025.

The impact of these reforms is evident in three key areas. First, schools are now monitored more frequently using standardized, data-driven tools, with clear feedback and actionable improvement plans. The state is also positioned to rank schools by Local Government Area, zone, and statewide for targeted interventions.

Second, teachers benefit from expanded training, mentoring, and professional development, supported by improved supervision and instructional coaching, leading to higher teaching standards and accountability.

Third, students now enjoy more credible and secure examinations, timely release of results, smooth transition to senior secondary education, and improved learning outcomes. NECO pass rates rose from 54 percent to 67 percent, while WAEC results with five credits and above improved from 68 percent to 78 percent. Examination malpractice has also been significantly reduced.

Overall, these reforms have strengthened public trust in the quality, safety, and credibility of schools across Kaduna State. They have also contributed to an increase in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) by over 240 percent through digitization, cost savings, and reduced leakages.

Kaduna State’s giant stride in education quality assurance stands as a testament to visionary leadership, effective governance, and a firm commitment to sustainable educational development.

Written by:

Aliyu Mohammed

Director-General

Uba Sani Again Forum