Supporting this view, Adamu Makadi, Chairman of the Teachers Service Board (TSB) in Kaduna State, noted that teachers in the region earn approximately 27% more than their peers in other state government sectors. He detailed how this disparity is part of the state’s broader initiative to attract and retain qualified educators.

Both Maitafsir and Makadi spoke at a One-Day Workshop on Teachers Issues in Conflict and Protracted Crisis Settings: Documenting the Effectiveness of the Kaduna Teacher Reforms. Makadi shared insights into the state’s proactive measures, explaining that before implementing these reforms, it became evident that the primary challenge lay not with the education system itself but with the quality of teachers.

“There is nothing wrong with our system of education; the problem is the quality of teachers. Kaduna State Government took the bull by the horns by initiating reforms in the educational sector, focusing on recruitment, deployment, and retention,” Makadi stated.

He elaborated that the recruitment process has been digitized and is open to all qualified candidates. This transparent approach ensures that teachers are assigned roles that align with their skills and are posted near their residences to enhance efficiency.

Makadi also highlighted that under the leadership of Senator Uba Sani, the state has introduced various incentives to support and retain competent teachers. “For instance, if you are a teacher on a particular salary grade level and step, you will earn about 27% more than your civil service counterpart in the same position,” he explained.

Adding to the discussion, Professor Oladele Akogun, Regional Research Director at the International Rescue Committee (IRC) for Nigeria & South Sudan, advocated for an even greater emphasis on teacher welfare. He suggested that to truly reform the education system, teachers should be valued and compensated even more than medical professionals.