‘5,000 Pupils Without Classrooms’: Kano government highlights urgent need for education revival
The Kano State Government has raised concerns over the current state of education in the region, drawing attention to a disheartening situation where a school accommodating over 5,000 pupils operates without proper classrooms and basic amenities, including a standard toilet.
Umar Haruna Doguwa, the Commissioner for Education in the state, brought this issue to light during a meeting with representatives from the British Council in his office.
Speaking about the dire situation, Doguwa emphasized the government’s ongoing partnership with the British Council to address the formidable challenges plaguing the education sector.
He underscored that Kano State is grappling with significant obstacles that hinder educational progress and endanger the future prospects of its youth.
As the state takes steps to formulate policies and programs aimed at enhancing the education sector, Doguwa underscored the importance of revitalizing the longstanding relationship between the Kano State Government and the British Council.
While acknowledging the commendable support the Council has extended to Nigeria and Kano State, he stressed the need for additional assistance to complement the present administration’s efforts to rejuvenate the sector.
Elaborating on the situation, Doguwa lamented, “In Kano now, you have a school with 5,000 pupils without a standard toilet, no classrooms and seats. So the problem is serious and pathetic. In addition to this, we can find a school with 300 students without a teacher at the same time sitting on the window or bare floor.”
He further disclosed that the state requires approximately 1.5 million seats for students across primary and post-primary schools, estimating the cost to be in the billions of naira.
He highlighted the numerous areas in which intervention from the British Council could make a substantial impact and urged the Council to lend its support to rectify these persistent issues.
Addressing the pressing concern of out-of-school children in the state, Doguwa assured the public of the administration’s determination to mitigate the situation.
He emphasized the connection between high numbers of unemployed and uneducated individuals and the potential for increased insecurity. In this light, he appealed for collaboration to establish more schools in Kano, complete with necessary facilities akin to those found in Britain.
The leader of the British Council delegation, Chikodi Onyemerela, who also serves as the Council Director of Programmes in Nigeria, expressed the team’s intent to bolster the existing relationship between the British Council and the government of Kano State, particularly in the realm of education.
