The Minister of State for Education, Mr Nyesom Wike last Thursday in Kaduna said the ministry has recorded 29 per cent improvement in WAEC result in Mathematics and English Language this year.

Wike stated this, while fielding questions from newsmen in Kaduna on the sideline of the 3rd National Teachers’ Summit, organised by the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), in Kaduna.

The minister attributed the improvement to the Federal Government’s ongoing transformation programmes in the education sector.

He said the ministry had equipped more than 70 per cent of the libraries of Federal Government Colleges to encourage reading culture and enable the students to have access to modern learning materials.

“ Books will be there to encourage students to read and enable teachers to make references as well as researches,’’ he said.

Wike reiterated the commitment of the government in providing infrastructure to schools and urged stakeholders to contribute towards achieving more in the sector.

“ Basic education is not the responsibility of the Federal Government, it is the responsibility of states and local governments,’’ he stressed.

He said the summit would provide an avenue for stakeholders to articulate policies and proffer solutions to challenges facing the sector.

The minister urged participants to offer palliatives to the myriad of challenges confronting the teaching profession.

Also, Gov. Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State said the summit would enable stakeholders to reflect on past experiences and enhance growth of teaching and learning.

Represented by Dr Muhammad Usman, Commissioner for Education, Yakowa said the state government had introduced reforms that would improve the sector in the state.

In his remarks, NTI Director-General, Dr Aminu Sharehu said the two-day summit brought experts from within and outside the country to proffer solution to the myriad of problems bedevilling the teaching profession in the country.

“The objective of the National Teachers Summit is to bring together experts in education sector from universities, polytechnics and colleges of education from Nigeria, Europe and America to brainstorm on the issues militating against quality teachers’ education in Nigeria.’’

Sharehu said all the 40 presentations would be compiled, while issues that are relate to the National Assembly and the federal government would be forwarded to them.

“The issues related to the state governments, local governments and SUBEBS will be compiled and forwarded to them for possible implementation.

“We believe that when we do that the issue of quality teachers and teachers’ profession in the country would certainly be addressed.”