No fewer than 15,285 applicants have been scheduled to sit for the recruitment examination under the Jigawa State J-TEACH Batch C programme, as the state intensifies efforts to address gaps in its basic education workforce.
The examination, fixed for Thursday, April 2, 2026, is a critical phase in the selection process, with only 4,000 candidates expected to be shortlisted from a total of 19,966 applications received.
The Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, Prof. Haruna Musa, disclosed this during an interview with Freedom Radio, where he outlined arrangements for the screening exercise and emphasised the competitive nature of the programme.
He explained that the J-TEACH initiative is a compulsory two-year teaching scheme aimed at equipping participants with practical classroom experience and professional training, after which successful candidates may be absorbed into the state’s teaching workforce.
Providing a breakdown of the figures, Musa stated that out of the total applicants, 15,285 candidates had been cleared to participate in the written examination across eight designated centres in the state.
According to him, the centres include three locations at the Federal University Dutse, Sule Lamido University in Kafin Hausa, Bilyaminu Usman Polytechnic in Hadejia, the Jigawa State College of Education in Gumel, as well as additional centres in Kazaure and Babura.
He noted that the large number of candidates slated for the exam reflects both the high level of interest in the programme and the pressing need for employment opportunities among graduates in the state.
Musa, however, clarified that not all applicants would sit for the examination, as 4,681 candidates would undergo direct screening without writing the test, while the records of 4,444 previously registered applicants would be reused.
He further explained that candidates who had participated in earlier recruitment exercises but were not selected due to limited slots in their respective local government areas would not be required to retake the examination, as their previous results would be reconsidered.
The SUBEB chairman added that 102 candidates earlier recruited but found to have discrepancies in their credentials would be given another opportunity for verification as part of efforts to ensure fairness and transparency.
He warned applicants against submitting falsified documents, stressing that the board would not hesitate to take legal action against anyone found guilty of forgery or misrepresentation.
Musa maintained that the exercise was part of the state government’s broader strategy to improve the quality of teaching personnel in public schools and bridge the shortage of qualified teachers across Jigawa.
Findings indicate that the recruitment process has generated significant attention across the state, with thousands of applicants competing for limited slots, underscoring the importance of the programme in both employment generation and education sector reform.
As the examination date approaches, officials say adequate arrangements have been put in place to ensure a smooth and credible exercise across all designated centres.
