Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Kano ![]() |
Kano Commissioner for Education, Doguwa speaking to journalists during the Townhall Meeting |
Kano government, on Sunday, launched an aggressive campaign against children staying out of school, urging parents to ensure that all their children attend school and acquire basic education which has been declared free in the state.
The state government warned parents against stopping their
children from going to school, particularly, the girls.
The state Commissioner of Education, Alhaji Haruna Umar
Doguwa, said the state government has provided all facilities needed to ensure
that every child in the state has access to basic education.
According to him, apart from providing books, and other
infrastructures needed to give children adequate free primary and basic
education in the state, more classroom blocks and chairs are being constructed
to accommodate millions of schoolchildren in the state.
He said a number of Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
have indicated interest to partner with the state government in reviving the
educational sector, which according to him was, “messed up by policies
introduced by the immediate-past administration.’
Alhaji Doguwa said plans have been concluded to re-open 28
boarding schools closed down by previous administration so as to create more
opportunities for thousands of children who dropped out of school as a result
of the closure to have access to education.
Alhaji Doguwa spoke during a one-day Massive Townhall
Meeting and Stakeholders Engagement at State Level on the Significance of
Girl’s Education as Key Impetus for Accelerated Development of Kano State,
organized by the state Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Ministry
of Women Affairs, Children and the PWDs, held at Sani Abacha Stadium Indoor
Sports Hall, Kofar Mata, Kano.
According to him, the state government has decided to
sanction parents who hinder their children from going to school.
He said the new policy indicated that all children should
not only go to school, but must be punctual and time-conscious, as Kano plans
to achieve zero-out-of-school children.
Alhaji Doguwa maintained that the state government will no
longer tolerate children roaming the streets during school hours for whatever
reason, adding that the government will not tolerate absenteeism and lateness.
“When we came on board, we met education sector in a
pathetic situation, we have 5.3 million students in the state, we met about 4.5
students sitting on the floor without chairs and without teaching materials.
“The previous administration shut down 28 boarding schools.
We have over 32,000 students in those schools, after the closure, we now have
about 9,000 students in boarding schools. Most of them are now in day schools.
“So if the government under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf
allocated 29.7 per cent of budget on education, promise to pay salary on time,
repair about 70 high capacity vehicles to transport the children to school, we
monitor the conduct of the teachers, what about children who don’t go to school
and the parents whose role it is to send their wards to school?
“So the component that is remaining now is the student
aspect which we decide to reach out to the parents to know the importance of
education, their commitment to allow their children to be in school in good
time.
“If we find a child coming late to school, we will invite
the parents, explain the situation to them and tell them we want them
(children) to come by 8am. And if they didn’t heed the call we will do the
needful.
“The way we take measures on teachers who come to school
late, so we will take measures on children who come to school late.
“Parents must realize they have a responsibility to send
their children (both male and female) to school,” he said.
In her remarks, the Secretary, High Level Women Association,
HILWA, Hajia Ladidi Fagge, said closure of the boarding schools is the genesis
of school drop out of girls in the state as they now engaged in the street
hawking among others.
She appealed to parents to compliment the state government’s
efforts by ensuring that their children go to school.