The Katsina State Government has issued a stern warning to secondary school principals who fail an upcoming competency test, stating that they will be removed from their positions and reassigned to classroom teaching roles.
Hajiya Zainab Musa-Musawa, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, delivered this message during a press briefing on Monday following a three-day workshop held in Katsina. The workshop, titled “Effective Leadership and Management of Secondary Schools in Katsina State,” was designed to enhance the leadership and administrative skills of the state’s principals.
According to the commissioner, a total of 1,350 secondary school principals will undergo the competency test, which will be conducted in five locations across the state: Katsina, Daura, Funtua, Malumfashi, and Dutsin-ma.
The purpose of the test, Musa-Musawa explained, is to rid the educational system of nepotism, favoritism, and corruption, while also strengthening leadership at the secondary school level. The test will focus on key areas including curriculum implementation, the national policy on education, and overall school management.
“Any principal who fails the test will be removed from their leadership role and reassigned to classroom teaching,” the commissioner stated. She added that the test would be computer-based (CBT), organized in collaboration with the state government, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), and the Federal College of Education (FCE) Katsina.
In addition to the CBT, the principals will also be required to complete an essay examination to assess their communication skills. The state government will determine the pass mark for both components of the test.
Musa-Musawa highlighted that this process is part of the government’s broader initiative to restructure the education system and ensure its forward progression.
She also praised the World Bank’s AGILE project and the Transforming Education System at the State Level (TESS) program for their support in facilitating the workshop and the forthcoming competency test.
