Kano technical colleges reopen amidst uncertainty on private schools

Kano state government has announced the reopening of all the six technical colleges in the state as part of the gradual reopening of the education sector during the COVID-19 era.

The state Commissioner for Education, Muhammad Sanusi Kiru, who gave the directive, stated that the decision became pertinent to enable final year students prepare for their forthcoming National Business and Technical Education Board (NABTEB) examinations.

Kiru noted that to facilitate the smooth re-opening of the schools, the sum of N15.6 million has been earmarked for students feeding as well as the sum of N860,000 for up-keep of the respective colleges.

The reopening of technical schools came when owners of private schools in the state are lamenting over deafening silent of government on the clear direction on the resumption of academic activities at private schools.

Kiru, who pointed out that like the grace granted the conventional students, explained that Governor Abdullah Umar Ganduje approved the resumption of technical academics to enable the SS3 students to exit the final year studies.

Besides, the Commissioner disclosed the has directed for the immediate payment of the NABTEB examinations fees of all the SSS 3 students in the technical schools.

The commissioner reminded that government has provided all the required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE’s) to all the students to ensure strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols.

The statement signed by Aliyu Yusuf, spokesperson of the Ministry, said the government has directed the Executive Secretary of the Board to facilitate all necessary protocols and measures to ensure the smooth resumption of students.

Chairman of Association of Model Islamic Schools (AMIS), Kano state chapter, Engr. Aliyu Bashir expressed worry that despite the critical stake of private schools in the nation’s education system, the operators are being left in the dark.

Engr. Bashir who lamented huge loss already incurred by proprietors in the last six months of lockdown occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic regretted that there was no clear policy direction from the state government on when and how private schools would resume academics.

He urged the state government to consider the plight of public schools in the scheme of arrangement in the interest of public.

“Many proprietors are seriously indebted to banks already. Several of our members have disengaged staff because we cannot pay salaries. Those who manage to pay are not paying half. Most of us are occupying rented apartments and our rent is overdue. We don’t know how to pay because there is no means. Yet parents are owing.

“To make the matter worse, the government has not said anything about out worsening condition as if we are contributing nothing to body of knowledge, to employment opportunity and even revenue generation of the government. Nobody is saying anything when the private schools will resume, which of the term and how do we resume the session. We are currently at the crossroad,” Engr. Bashir worried.