By Abdussamad Ahmad YusufBefore last year it was a huge disappointment; the story of basic education in Kano. It was an eight year of bastardization, disregard for, and uncelebratory massacre of the education sector. A large part of schools structure were not standing firm: either at the risk of auctioning and conversion to kiosks, shops and plazas or allocation to cronies for personal homes. That was the disaster that was Kano’s education.
The return of Kwankwasiyya-led government in Kano, under the helm of Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, reinvited hope and vision of an average Kano citizen. The hope passed tough, through a near one-year litigation, and finally, unpurtubed; the people emerged waxing even more stronger — renewing their faith, Kano will be back on a good trajectory.
In June this year, guided by a conviction to bail the education sector from the state of anomy erstwhile governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has left it, Abba Kabir led experts, government functionaries, International organizations, and concerned Kano citizens; to declaring a state of emergency in education. This is to fast-track development in the sector and remedy the poor state it was thrown in to.
Recognizing the issue, Abba noted in his speech; “Our beloved State is witnessing an alarming proliferation of out-of-school children, (with the current figure standing at 989,234 children of both genders), a situation that threatens to rob an entire generation of their right to education and a brighter future. The statistics are grim and the faces of these children, devoid of the promise of learning, haunt us as a collective failure,”
On infrastructure and structure decay and improper learning environment, governor Abba told Kano citizens a reality they were all witnesses to:
“Our schools, which should be sanctuaries of knowledge, discipline and growth, are in a deplorable state. Dilapidated infrastructure is a common sight – roofs caving in walls crumbling, and classrooms that can no longer provide a safe and conducive learning environment.
“The lack of instructional materials further compounds the problem, leaving our teachers and students struggle with outdated and insufficient resources. Above 4.7Million pupils are sitting on bare floors to take lessons while about 400 schools have only one teacher for all classes subjects and all pupils,”
To take a u-turn from the catastrophic situation; teachers on the BESDA program, which were earlier under Ganduje denied their monthly stipends running to several months, instantly; over five thousands of them got employed. This singular act reinvigorates the state’s basic education human resource power — a driving force for achieving quality and sustainable basic education. Teacher is the engine room for grooming future for the nation, and Abba has decided to begin with them.
Before the declaration, let me remind that, the uncertainty with salary payment in Kano has long been resolved. There is no longer cause for alarm; every month, a teacher receives his full salary, “babu fince!”
It is not in oblivion; an unprecedented state of transformation is taking shape in the Kano’s basic schools. This time, not concentrating the development within the metropolis, but extending to the entire state, ensuring inclusivity and equality in accesss to government resources and dividend of democracy.
Through the CRC: Community Re-orientation Council, each of the 44 local government’s are having a share of schools’ renovation and re-equiping. This was an action, already, itemized within the action plan of the Emergency Declaration for those who care to check.
I remember visiting Kofar Ruwa Primary School during the last General election and found no class has students seat, not to talk of the teacher’s. In September – just last month – 73, 000 first phase intervention seats were distributted accross basic schools courtesy of Abba Kabir administration. Significance of this may be underrated. However, as a keen observer of things I know, this has the potential of increasing students enrolment and retention. Remember the wooping number of out-of-school children in Kano. It will also, prolong the uniforms given to students freely. Yes, uniforms and learning materials, are procured by the administration and being made available to pupils.
In Kano, with the enabling environment being cultivated by Abba K. Yusuf, excuse not to send a ward to school does not exist. In no time, these initiatives will ensure, no child shall be in the register of out-of-school children, and, the quality of public schools will begin to compete with the private.
While these giant strides ongoing, the opposition decides to smear the good gesture being made. As a true democrat, I recognise and believe in the wise saying: opposition is the beauty of democracy. Kano being the homestate of Malam Aminu Kano, too, a radical opposition leader the Kwankwasiyya has always draw inspiration from. However, opposition should not be taken to the level hate and sabotage. It is imperative to support the ongoing reforms in education by Abba Gida-Gida for the better Kano that await us.
Lest I forget, I am taking the last leg to remind you; education in Kano is free. And, those at the state-owned tertiary institutions pay only 50% of the registration fee.
Abdussamad is a concerned Kano citizen from Dala LG.
