Bauchi — Bauchi State government is set to partner with the National Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) to fast track the implementation of the nine-year basic education curriculum and the new senior secondary education structure.

Governor Isa Yuguda, who gave this indication while exchanging views with members of the governing board of the council, said the nation's educational system had collapsed and must be invigorated urgently.

As part of effort to reposition the sector, he said his administration had embarked on massive construction of new school structures and renovation of dilapidated ones across the state, in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy (NEEDS).

Yuguda said the state government had already resuscitated the furniture company in the state to address the problem of inadequate school furniture, saying, "the company can conveniently produce 200 twin desks daily and aside from satisfying the state's needs, its products are now in high demand by other states and owners of private schools."

He enumerated some of the achievements of his administration in the education sector to include employment of thousands of teachers; upward review of teachers' allowances, as well as reorganisation of the ministry of education to promote accountability and transparency in the management of resources.

In his remark, the team leader of NERDC, Prof. Fred Onyeaziri called for increased budgetary allocation to the sector to sustain the policy of regular training and retraining of teachers. "There is need to train and retain adequate number of teachers who can effectively implement the curriculum. There is also the need to develop adequate and up-to-date resources for teaching, coupled with a sustainable capacity building mechanism to support professional development."

Onyeaziri, who implored parents to fully support the education of their children by providing care, love and resources for learning, advised students to adopt role models in their communities.