The Katsina State Government has officially set up a committee to prepare and coordinate recruitment into the Special Model Secondary Schools, beginning with the Radda Special Model Secondary School.
The committee was inaugurated by the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Katsina State, Honourable Yusuf Sulaiman Jibia, who said the move was part of efforts to ensure a smooth commissioning and academic take-off of the school.
The inauguration aligns with the “Building Your Future” agenda of the Executive Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, PhD, CON, under which education has been identified as a major driver of sustainable development in the state.
The state government had earlier initiated the establishment of three Special Model Secondary Schools, with one school located in each of the three Senatorial Zones of Katsina State. Construction works and related activities across the schools have progressed significantly, with the Radda school reaching an advanced stage that makes it ready for commissioning.
Speaking at the inauguration, the Commissioner said the Special Model Schools were designed to serve as centres of excellence. According to him, “upon completion, the Special Model Schools are envisioned to serve as beacons of hope and centres of excellence, providing a safe, inclusive and supportive learning environment that promotes academic excellence, innovation, and social cohesion.”
He explained that the committee was constituted to oversee the commissioning process and supervise the initial operational phases of the school to ensure a smooth transition into full academic activities, in line with the state government’s education standards.
The committee is chaired by the Special Adviser on Education, Honourable Nura Saleh Katsayal, while the Permanent Secretary, Hajiya Ummulkhair Ahmed Bawa, serves as Co-Chairman. Other members include Dr. Kabir Magaji Gafiya, Executive Chairman of SUBEB; Alhaji Sada Ibrahim Sada, Chairman of TSB; and Professor Kabir Matazu, mni, Executive Secretary of STEB.
Additional members are Hajiya Raliya Yusuf Jiba, Director Schools Senior; Alhaji Kabir Dodo, Director Schools Junior; Q.S. Shamsuddeen Hassan, Director Works; and Sani Danjuma Suleiman, Public Relations Officer. The committee also includes representatives of Hallmark Consultancy Firm, Special Schools Project Consultants, and Dr. Mustapha Shehu, AGILE Coordinator.
Bashir Ya’u, Media Aide to His Excellency, is also a member, while Aminu Lawal Galadanchi, Assistant Director, Special Model Schools, MBASE, will serve as Secretary of the committee.
According to the terms of reference, the primary purpose of the committee is to kick-start operations at the Special Model Secondary School, Radda. This includes coordinating preparatory activities, addressing outstanding construction or setup issues, and facilitating the commencement of academic sessions.
The committee is expected to ensure that the school meets required standards of excellence, modern facilities, and smart learning environments. Its objectives include finalising outstanding infrastructure works through inspection and handover from contractors, developing an operational plan covering staffing, curriculum integration, and student enrolment, and identifying potential risks that could affect the school’s take-off.
The scope of work also covers conducting site inspections to confirm readiness of facilities, finalising recruitment and orientation of teaching and non-teaching staff, and ensuring timely procurement and installation of educational materials, technology, equipment, and facilities.
Other responsibilities include developing a detailed startup timeline, securing outstanding approvals, identifying pending procurements such as uniforms, beddings and utensils, issuing admissions through the CDP, coordinating the commissioning ceremony, testing installed systems, ensuring adequate publicity, and co-opting additional members where necessary.
The committee is to commence work immediately after inauguration and has been given two weeks to complete its assignment.
