Kano Education Emergency Improves Pupils’ Attendance – Investigation

By Abdullahi Yusuf

The State of Emergency declared in the education sector by the Kano State Government has boosted attendance among primary school pupils in the state.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had declared a State of Emergency in education to arrest the decay in the sector and restore its past glory in the state.

An investigation conducted by Prime Time News in many primary schools across the state revealed that following the introduction of measures under the State of Emergency initiative,the number of primary school pupils attending classes has increased considerably.

Such measures include provision of more classrooms,furniture, instructional materials, qualified teachers and payment of Model Allowances to them.

Our checks at Tudun Wada Model Primary School in Tudun Wada Local Government Area revealed a high level of attendance with more than 1000 pupils receiving lessons.

The Assistant Headmaster of the School, Malam Kabiru Alasan,said the elevated level of pupils’ attendance at the school was first encouraged by the teachers’ attitude to work.

Alasan said the teachers are coming to work on time and closing as and when due, having been motivated by their promotion to their next salary grade levels as part of the state government’s implementation of the State of Emergency programme.

He said the prompt payment of Model Allowances to the teachers under the Emergency Initiative had also enhanced their service delivery.

“These two gestures guaranteed by the State Government under the State of Emergency programmes have improved the teachers’ productivity and by extension,the pupils’ level of attendance,” he said.

The Assistant Headmaster also commended the construction of a one-storey block of four classrooms at the school’s premises under the State of Emergency programme whose work has been completed.

“The construction of the one-storey block of four classrooms in the school is a welcome development,as it has boosted the pupils’ attendance,” he said.

Some pupils spoken to in other primary schools across the state, including the Headboy of Yelwa Model Primary School in Dala Local Government Area,Saminu Sunusi, and the Headgirl of Ungogo Special Primary School,Jamila Isa Suleiman, also stated that they were encouraged by the measures adopted under the State of Emergency Initiative.

According to them,the provision of more classrooms and deployment of more teachers and instructional materials had motivated them and other pupils to be attending their lessons more regularly.

“You can see that all our classes are fully occupied with pupils receiving lessons from our teachers, but there are challenges that need to be addressed to attract more pupils to the school.

“The challenges are that the furniture are still not enough because some of us still receive lessons on bare floor,so also the shortage of toilet facilities is forcing us to defecate in the open,”the pupils added.