State of Emergency In Education: Governor Yusuf On Rescue Mission In Kano

ON this edition of Kano in Focus, I have the privilege to keep our esteem readers abreast with the vision of His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf on the journey to revitalise public education system to an enviable status, which once produced well-meaning and successful Kano indigenes.

Meanwhile, those familiar with the core ideology of Kwankwasiyya would understand the passion of Governor Yusuf on education and the mission to ensure 100 per cent school enrollment in Kano State. As a matter of policy, the present administration believes every child of school age must be in the classroom during school hours, irrespective of parents’ status.

Alhaji Yusuf has firm conviction that no child should suffers disparities and, or inequities when it comes to access to quality education in Kano. It is because universality of education knows no barrier in the community of nation, hence, there’s no acceptable reason for Kano to be caught in any web.

However, it was disheartening to reveal that Governor Yusuf inherited from the immediate past administration of All Progressives Congress (APC) a near collapse education sector with stark system failure. It was more devastating to receive a sector, where ambiences are hardly conducive for teaching and learning, let alone building future generation, despite billions of budgetary allocation to education.

In clear term, this administration came to power on October 29, 2023, only to discover that over 4.7 million pupils in Kano public school are being forced to sit on bare floor to receive lessons. That’s not enough; this government came to a realisation of the fact that 90 per percent of this figure are either learning under the trees or in classes with shattered roofs.

Another disturbing situation this administration found itself was a case of acute shortage of manpower in Kano public schools. Findings also showed that about 400 schools were found having only one teacher each, offering lesson on all the classes and subjects.

Amidst all these inadequacies, the previous administration shutdown several boarding schools for several months in the name of security threats, and closed about 20 specialised schools and skill acquisition centres established by Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso administration during his second term as Governor of Kano State.

Realising these stark pictures of a system in dire need of reform, Governor Yusuf quickly declared no less a state of emergency in the education sub-sector, and sooner assumed the bold action in a rescue mission to resuscitate our educational legacy in Kano.

Declaring the state of emergency in June 2024, His Excellency said, “A state of emergency as declared today is aimed to take legal measures that allow some bold steps to address critical challenges in the education system. It is a call to action for all stakeholders, government, educators, parents, private sectors, and community at large to unite and prioritize the realization of education system in Kano.”

The Governor subsequently revealed that, “Our beloved state is witnessing an alarming proliferation of out-of-school children, with the current figures standing at 989,234 children of both gender, a situation that threatens to rob an entire generation of their right to education and brighter future.”

While committed to rolling out full implementation of the state of emergency, with strategic action plans, Governor Yusuf has demonstrated unwavering commitment to rejuvenate the present state of education in the staff.

Just recently, the Governor unveiled 73,800 (three-seater) school furniture, distributed across public schools in the state, to end the era of empty classroom in government schools.

Just two weeks ago, Governor Yusuf personally unveiled learning materials worth millions of naira to complement quality teaching and learning in public schools. Just like the furniture, the instructional materials, including stationaries, textbooks and notebooks were distributed free of charge to pupils/students across public schools in the state.

Similarly, contracts have been awarded for renovations and construction of new classroom blocks. On record are over 500 schools earmarked for renovation, while 200 new schools across rural and urban areas are already marked. This stride will significantly reduced overcrowding and ensured students have conducive environment to learn. Expectedly, these initiatives, coupled with a free and compulsory education policy already in force, are targeted toward 30 per cent increase in enrollment rates at both primary and secondary levels.

Again, over 10,000 teachers were retrained through specialised workshops, focusing on modern teaching methods, pedagogy, and classroom management. The government has also recruited 5,000 new teachers to reduce the student-teacher ratio and ensure quality education.

Sanusi Ahmad Bature Dawakin-Tofa
Director-General, Media and Publicity, Kano State Government House.