Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria – Poverty, insecurity and religious bent culture trigger the prolonged system that is rapidly increasing the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, with the northern part with a significant number as the space of accommodating the practice that unfavored the future of the upcoming generation.
To combat the problem, the Nigerian government, both federal and state, in collaboration with traditional, religious institutions, and non-governmental organisations, has been developing mechanisms to eradicate child labour, the “Almajiri system” (begging for education), and the growing number of out-of-school children, which has risen from 10.5 million to approximately 20 million, according to UNESCO statistics.
However, having strategic analyses of the threat of street children, and depopulation in elementary education, the 4th most populated state in Nigeria with about 8,324,285 citizens according to 2006 population censors, “Kaduna” enacted a law that no child of school age should be seen on the street hawking during school hours” in the year 2015 upon assumption of office as the governor of Kaduna state, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-rufai.
The governor introduced a free education programme for all in the state, providing free feeding and school uniforms for students while warning parents whose child was found hawking or loitering would be arrested alongside the child with the hope of eradicating the menace of out-of-school children on the state’s streets.
After a three-day retreat for commissioners and special advisers, the governor, who stressed that education is a top priority in his administration, declared a state of emergency in the education sector, and, on September 15, 2015, KDSG declared free education and set aside an astounding N13.7 billion for primary and secondary school students in the state.
During the retreat, Daily Episode learned that the governor strongly warned that any school principal or headmaster who receives or requests school from parents would be dealt with while describing a fraudulent 3.7 billion naira allegedly spent on school fees by the immediate past PDP government in the state.
However, for the 7 years of the APC and El-rufai administrations, vulnerable children enjoyed free education, free uniforms, math and English textbooks, free feeding for academic sessions, and a phone or tablet in some boarding schools in the state.
Increased Enrollment, Poor Attendance
Though the government’s infrastructure development touches several schools across the geopolitical zones of the state, several schools have been upgraded while classes have been decongested to improve the quality of education by providing a conducive atmosphere.
However, as of 2017, student enrollment in schools across the state has significantly increased by a higher percentage compared to previous years, where a decline report was normal and constantly growing.
Malam Ja’afar Sani, a vice principal at one of the schools in the state, told Daily Episode that the government has done remarkably well by introducing free education, as student enrollment has tripled in some schools. He said, “A class of 30 students before the commencement of free education contained over 100 students.”
While applauding the government for initiating the program, which drastically reduced the number of out-of-school children, Dauda frowned at how students and parents were scuttling the government’s efforts.
According to him, the program was designed to record a productive generation and provide children with a brighter future because every responsible government must ensure children receive a sound and compulsory education.
However, it is extremely unfortunate that a high increase in enrollment is followed by poor attendance, with only 40% of the 100% of admitted students attending class regularly.
Some parents may not be aware, while others choose not to monitor or force their children to attend regular lectures. He continued
Parents need to understand the future of their children is primary, commitment towards a better future is essential and deserves total hope and support; therefore, both parents and the government should build a mechanism where students’ performance and attendance will be improved. He added.
Sacked Teachers
Since its assumption, the state government has faced allegations, laments, condemnations, and court cases alleging that, according to organised labour, the state government violates labour rights, particularly those of state civil servants, through mass sacking, pushing many families into abject poverty and effectively killing dreams.
Though the state government has constantly defended its action, proving that teachers are recruited and sacked for competency as disengagement becomes the state’s only option, the sacked teachers failed the competency test organised by the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (KADSUBEB).
Arguably, many laments that such action will record a huge setback to the state education sector, and the price will be hugely regretted as many classrooms are full of students with no qualified or present teachers.
Therefore, the state is hit by a lack of teachers in classrooms, Mr James Tanko from the Chikun local government of the state told Daily Episode.
As I speak to you, I have since transferred my children to a nearby private school due to a lack of teachers in public schools, and the academic performance of my children has drastically decreased; however, this can be attributed to the constant sacking of teachers with career progression and working experience. He added.
The Challenge Of The Private Sector And The Escalating Insecurity
The escalating insecurity in Kaduna State, especially the mass kidnapping and killing of some students across the state, has hindered academic activities in the state. The terrorists, locally known as armed bandits or barayin daji, regularly kidnap students from both elementary and higher education institutions across the state.
Since the mass abduction of Bethel Baptist High School on July 5, 2022, approximately 13 schools have remained closed, some of which are privately owned, leaving students, parents, teachers, and school proprietors stranded and hopeless. though some students are being transferred to a distant location for schooling.
At a public dialogue organised by the Nigerian Labour Congress NLC, Malam Ahmed Ibrahim, a teacher at Tulip International School Kaduna, noted that the living conditions of teachers in the schools where insecurity has forced them to shut down are unbearable and that considering reopening the schools may alleviate their suffering.
According to him, the bandits may be using the schools for their criminal acts, as people rarely go there for normal activities, so anything can be done by criminal elements. He advised the state government to reconsider opening the schools for better quality education, as the public schools cannot serve this purpose alone.
Re-introduction of Tuition Fees
The Kaduna state government’s re-introduction of tuition fees in both primary and secondary schools comes as a shock, a situation that most citizens fault the government for considering the economic crisis and the high level of insecurity coupled with the lack of teachers in schools across the state.
According to the state authority, For the first term’s fees, each student is required to pay N1000, and the second and third terms’ fees are each N500. Students can pay in full at the beginning of the session or in three instalments spread out over three terms.
But Malam Aliyu, a teacher in a public school, argues that the government is right to reintroduce the tuition fee, even for maintaining the schools recently reconstructed by the state government to a standard level.
According to him, the government should allow the students to pay their school fees, but take responsibility for WAEC and NECO fees. I believe that will compel parents and students to do what is necessary, knowing that they paid for what they are gaining. They will not be serious in an extreme situation where both parents and students are not afraid of losing anything.”
According to the state authority, For the first term’s fees, each student is required to pay N1000, and the second and third terms’ fees are each N500. Students can pay in full at the beginning of the session or in three instalments spread out over three terms.
LIKE & FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, LINKEDIN & YOUTUBE
