✍️ Reported by Adamu Tela Bakori
Bakori Local Government Chairman, Abubakar Musa Barde
In a bold stride toward educational equity, Governor Dikko Umar Radda of Katsina State has unveiled a transformative admission scheme for newly established special schools across the state. The initiative, designed to ensure that every child—regardless of socioeconomic background—has access to quality education, marks a significant milestone in the administration’s education reform agenda.
A total of 2,172 students from all 361 wards in Katsina State will sit for entrance examinations, with 996 students set to begin studies at the special schools located in Radda, Jikamshi, and Dumurkul. Each ward will nominate six students—two each from Primary 6, JSS1, and JSS2—ensuring fair representation and merit-based selection.
Governor Radda emphasized the integrity of the process during a high-level education stakeholders’ meeting at the Government House in Katsina, attended by commissioners, local government chairpersons, education secretaries, and development officers.
“Every selected student will receive full government sponsorship, including uniforms, computers, internet access, 24-hour electricity, accommodation, and highly qualified teachers,” Radda stated.
The governor highlighted the disparity between children from affluent families who attend private schools and those from rural communities who lack access to basic learning resources. The special schools aim to close this gap by offering top-tier education to gifted children from underprivileged backgrounds.
“We want the child of a farmer to have the same opportunity as the child of a wealthy businessman. These schools will produce future leaders who will transform Katsina State,” he affirmed.
Construction of the Radda campus is expected to be completed within the month, while the Jikamshi and Dumurkul campuses will be ready before year-end. In the interim, all 996 admitted students will commence their studies at the Radda facility.
Entrance exams will be conducted at seven designated centers:
- Katsina College, Katsina
- Government Girls Secondary School, Funtua
- Government Day Secondary School, Daura
- Government Pilot Secondary School, Dutsinma
- Government Unity Secondary School, Malumfashi
- Government Day Secondary School, Kankia
- Government Day Secondary School, Mani
Local government officials have been directed to ensure that nominated students are present at their assigned centers.
Governor Radda issued a stern warning to education officers and community leaders:
“If you betray the trust of the people by selecting unqualified candidates, you will answer to God. But if you act with honesty, you will be rewarded with greater trust and responsibility.”
In a related development, Hon. Abubakar Musa Barde, Chairman of Bakori Local Government, expressed gratitude to Governor Radda for the inclusive nature of the scheme. He pledged that only deserving students from disadvantaged backgrounds would be selected, in line with the governor’s vision.
“This is a golden opportunity for our children. We will ensure fairness and uphold the integrity of the process,” Barde assured.
The special schools initiative is part of a broader reform that has already seen Katsina students sent abroad for advanced studies in medicine, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology—with full government sponsorship.
As Katsina State sets its sights on a future defined by knowledge and opportunity, Governor Radda’s education blueprint is poised to reshape the academic landscape and empower the next generation of leaders.
✍️ Reported by Adamu Tela Bakori, Media Aide to the Katsina State Government
📍 Bakori Local Government, August 30, 2025
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