Free Education: Gov Kefas Directs Reactivation of PTA in Public Schools, Unveils Plan for Direct Intervention

Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas has directed the reactivation of Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) in public schools across the state as part of a renewed strategy to tackle challenges in the education sector.

Announcing the plan , the governor said he would begin direct engagements with teachers and principals, bypassing traditional stakeholder bottlenecks, to ensure faster and more effective solutions.

Speaking on Wednesday in Jalingo, the governor raised serious concerns over the deteriorating state of education in the state, describing the system and its technological backbone as "very bad." He lamented that unreliable data and outdated structures have slowed down the pace of ongoing reforms.

"Most of the data we have is not reliable. Unconfirmed reports indicate that we have over 500 public secondary schools and around 300 private schools, but without accurate information, planning becomes difficult," Kefas said.

The governor explained that his administration would no longer rely solely on traditional stakeholders but would instead deal directly with teachers, principals, and students who are directly affected by the challenges.

"We are going to break the jinx of relying on traditional stakeholders and instead deal directly with those who are directly affected—the teachers, principals, and students. Stakeholders often come with their own interests and challenges," he noted.

As part of the new intervention, Kefas pledged to channel funds straight to schools to tackle urgent infrastructure problems, including the repair of classroom roofs and the provision of desks.

"We're sending the money straight to them. They know what needs to be done and can act faster," the governor declared.

In addition to funding reforms, Kefas announced a comprehensive biometric verification exercise to sanitize the payroll system in the education sector. He noted that while some workers are on the payroll, they were not properly employed or documented, leading to bloated salary expenditures.

"They are not ghosts, but they weren't properly employed. We must ensure that everyone receiving a salary is truly working and qualified for the position," he said.

The governor revealed that his administration is preparing for a wave of retirements in the civil service and will focus on training the next generation of workers to sustain reforms. He stressed that the biometric system would ensure fairness in recruitment, promotions, and wage payments.

"We want to give everyone an equal opportunity. If you're a civil servant, you should be worthy of your wages. We want to pay people who are actually working," he added.

Our correspondent gathered that the education reform plan will be implemented in phases, beginning with biometric verification and infrastructure assessments in public schools across the state in the coming weeks.

Governor Kefas' directive on PTA reactivation and direct school funding marks a major policy shift aimed at empowering school communities, addressing long-standing infrastructural decay, and ensuring accountability in the management of public schools.