Kano Gov declares state of emergency on education, to build 300 labs {STATEMENT}

*We will hire additional 10,000 teachers – Yusuf

By BASHIR ADEFAKA

Governor of Kano State,  North West Nigeria, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, has declared a State of Emergency on Education in the state.

Making the declaration at the Open Arena of Kano State Government House, Nasarawa GRA on Saturday June 8, 2024, Governor Yusuf lamented that the state educational landscape, which was once a beacon of hope and opportunity for the youth and an example for other states to copy, now stands shrouded in the shadows of unacceptable neglect and decay.

“The problems are multi-faceted: we face a severe shortage of qualified teachers, inadequate teacher training programs, and a lack of basic amenities such as clean water and sanitation in many of our schools.

“These issues, coupled with the socio- economic challenges that many of our students face, create an environment where education is not just difficult, but nearly impossible,” he said.

The governor said an additional 300 state-of-the-art laboratories in 100 schools across the state will be built, provision of which, he said, will provide the students with hands-on experience in scientific inquiry, fostering a culture of experimentation and discovery that is essential for their future success.

In order to create a more conducive atmosphere for learning, the Governor announced the construction of 1,000 classrooms across the State within the next academic session.

“This measure will, no doubt, mitigate classroom congestion that has become a common feature of most of our schools.
We have also directed that all contractors handling inherited abandoned projects in our tertiary institutions should go back to site immediately,” he said.

As part of the emergency action, the governor approved the hiring of additional 10,000 teachers, adding that teachers will enjoy periodic training and retraining so as to achieve the vision of making “every teacher, a caring educator”.

“At least 1,000 Academic and non-academic staff will be employed into tertiary institutions,” he said.

Governor Yusuf said, “This declaration is not just symbolic; it signifies a commitment to overhaul our education system from the ground up. We will invest in infrastructure, ensuring that every school has adequate classrooms conducive to teaching and learning.

“We will also prioritize teacher training and welfare, recognizing their pivotal role in shaping the minds of tomorrow.”

Event of the declaration was attended by former Governor of Cross Rivers State, Mr. Donald Duke, as Chairman of occasion, Presidential Candidate (2023) and Leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPN), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Deputy Governor of Kano State, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, and several other dignitaries.

Spokesperson of the Governor, Mallam Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, issued a statement after the event.

See a copy of the statement below:

Press Statement
8th June, 2024

Education: Kano Government Declares State of Emergency – – –
– – – recruits 5,632 BESDA Teachers – –
– – – Distributes Soft Loan to SUBEB Teachers, Instructional Materials

Passionate and committed about rescuing the education sector from total collapse, Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf has today (Saturday) formally declared State of Emergency on Education.

This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen by the governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa in Kano

Delivering his address at an elaborate occasion that was held at the Open Theatre, Government House, Governor Abba Kabir said, declaring the state of emergency will allow government to take bold steps to address critical challenges bedeviling the sector across the street.

According to the governor, the objective of declaration of state of emergency on education is encapsulated in the overall vision for the education delivery in a vision statement viz:

Every school, a good school; every child, enrolled child, every student, an engaged learner; every teacher, a caring educator; every parent, a supportive partner; and your government, a committed investor in human capital development.

He added that the declaration will enable the government to mobilize resources, implement urgent reforms, and focus on strategic interventions that will rebuild the educational infrastructure, provide necessary materials, a step that will pave way for every child in Kano State to have access to quality education, which is their fundamental right.

Alhaji Abba Kabir explained provisions made to strengthen the declaration that includes: allocation of 29.95% of 2024 budget; restoration of upkeep and overhead funds for secondary schools; Unveils plan for building an additional 300 laboratories, plan to construct 1000 classrooms within the next academic session and reopening of all the boarding school closed by the immediate past administration.

Others are; plan for comprehensive renovation of all primary and junior secondary schools;28, 264 classes in the next three years to enroll out of school children; to commence distribution of one-meal per child per day in all primary schools and reintroduction of distribution of free uniforms to all primary I pupils among others.

In the same vein, the state government has offered full time job to 5,632 BESDA (Better Education Service Delivery for All)teachers, approved for hiring of additional 10,000 teachers with intensified effort of continuous periodic training and retraining of teachers so as to achieve the vision of making ” every teacher, a caring educator”.

The government has also approved the disbursement of the sum of 300 million naira as soft loan to teachers working under the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) across the state.

The Governor used the opportunity to extensively dwelt on the feats achieved by his administration within one year in office in the area of educational development in the nooks and crannies of Kano State.

He reminded parents that the responsibility for improving the educational sector doesn’t rest solely with the government, but it is a collective endeavor requiring the cooperation of parents, communities and stakeholders in the education sector.

Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf thanked the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Remi Tinubu for donating 110,000 exercise books to the state that were distributed during the occasion.

The chairman of the occasion and former governor of Cross Rivers State, Donald Duke doffed hat to Kano State Government for being a face setter as the occasion symbolizes re-birth of education not only in Kano, but in the northern part of the country.

In his submission, a special guest and former governor of Kano State, Sen. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso expressed joy for the development and called on all and sundry to support governor Abba Kabir Yusuf in taking Kano to greater heights.

He admonished newly employed teachers to accept their posting to rural areas with good minds to achieve the desired goals and objectives.

The occasion was graced by stakeholders on education at the Federal, States levels and Development Partners.

Signed:

Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa
Director General
Media and Publicity
Government House, Kano