Education which is the process of facilitating learning, knowledge, skills, values, and character development. It’s essential for personal growth, social progress, and economic development.
As a citizen of Kano state I respectfully write to inform his excellency Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf to note that; in recent times, Kano State under his stewardship, has gained attention for remarkable achievements in the education sector.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has been recognized as one of the most education-friendly governors, having earned an award from the Nigeria Union of Teachers during this year’s World Teachers’ Day celebrations.
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Additionally, the state received an accolade for its commitment to national education policies, with the Commissioner for Education, Honourable Umar Haruna Doguwa, accepting this honor on behalf of Kano.
In a significant step forward, Governor Yusuf had earlier in the year declared a state of emergency in education, allocating 29.97 percent of the Kano’s 2024 budget to the sector, now over 30 percent of the budget —well above UNESCO’s recommended 27 percent.
These efforts highlight a genuine commitment to improving education, especially at the lower and upper basic levels, as well as in secondary and the tertiary institutions.
However, with all these positive attributes in the Kano’s kitty, these accomplishments lie a disheartening story: the neglect of senior secondary education in Kano.
Secondary schools, particularly at the senior level, seem to have been overlooked in the state’s ambitious plans.
This oversight is troubling, given that secondary education serves as a bridge between basic and tertiary levels, preparing students for higher learning or the workforce.
While the government has made strides in other educational areas, the management and oversight of senior secondary education have suffered significantly.
A major factor in this neglect appears to be inadequate leadership and management within the sector.
The board responsible for managing secondary education (Kano State Secondary School Management Board KSSSMB) has, regrettably, been left in disarray. Essential oversight and support for teachers, vital to improving student learning outcomes, have been lacking.
KSSSMB itself seems mismanaged, with leadership focused more on personal gain than on the welfare of students and teachers. This “jungle” atmosphere has resulted in a toxic environment that undermines the very purpose of education.
Now the question is, did governor Abba Kabir Yusuf fully aware of the damage caused by ineffective leadership in this crucial sector? One wonders whether the issues within the board managing secondary education have been adequately communicated to the governor.
Moreover, If left unaddressed, this neglect risks nullifying the state’s broader achievements in education, in the recent or longer times.
It is my sincere hope that this wards serves as a wake-up call to those in power in Kano to think twice. I specifically called on Governor Abba Kabeer Yusuf to take decisive action to change this trend with a vibrant leadership overseeing the sector.
The future of Kano youth depends largely on an urgent intervention to restore service delivery, commitment and foresight before it is too late.
Abubakar N Abubakar,
is a concerned Kano citizen Writes from Dala in Kano state.