By Isyaku Garba

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) on 7^th October 2013, commenced a 5-day  ICT training for the Directors of Jigawa State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.   The objective of the training was to enhance the capacity of the participants in the use of ICTs for educational administration and management.  The training was part of CITAD’s support to the ministry in its effort to use ICT to enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in managing schools. The training held at GSSS, Dutse.

Cross Section of the Participants

The training was started with an opening ceremony which was addressed by the Honorable commissioner who was represented by the Executive Secretary of the Jigawa State Science and Technical Schools Board, Dr. Habibu Sara. Other officials of the ministry also present were the Director Schools, Hajiya Aisha Idris and Director, Science & Technology Alhaji Aliyu Ahmed Shungurun, among others.  in his remark, the Hon. Commissioner welcomed the participants and the facilitators; he thanked and appreciated the effort of CITAD for the contribution it had been giving toward improvement in ICT knowledge in the state. He added that he was delighted with the turnout of the participants. He noted that ICT was one of the basic requirements of education sector as it was critical in various aspects of learning and administration. He disclosed that the ministry had planned to ensure that all staff were given ICT training before the end of 2014.  He also said that the ministry would in the  will give them Laptops at the end of the training.

In his remarks the ED of CITAD represented by the Program Coordinator  Isyaku Garba, thanked the ministry for accepting CITAD’s offer of training programme and congratulated the ministry for the bug achievements it has been recording especially in the area of ICT for schools. He noted that Jigawa state has already made huge investment in the provision of ICT system and facilities in its schools and departments it was for this reason that CITAD proposed the training for the Directors of the MOEST to enhance their capacity to use ICTs as tools for administration.

The training was attended by 30 directors from different departments of the ministry. The content of the training covered key modules in office productivity tools as well as modules specific to management of educational institutions.

The training was closed on Friday 11^th October, 2013. Director Science and Technology, Alhaji Aliyu Ahmed Shungurun, Director Schools MOEST Hajia Aishatu Idris and Deputy Director Dutse Education Zone gave closing remark and vote of thank respectively. The Director of Science read the Honorable Commissioner’s closing message. He congratulated the participants and expressed his appreciation on their punctuality, he said that giving training was not something difficult for the ministry but utilizing of what was learnt is what the difficult thing. He therefore called on them to put what they learnt in to practice as the ministry promised to give them laptops by next week. In her speech Director Schools thanked both the Ministry and CITAD for giving them the opportunity to enhance their capacity.  Director Dutse Zonal Office of the Ministry said that for years there were many computers in schools and offices kept not fully being utilized but pointed that with this training, the staff would make effective use of these systems.