Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano
The Kano State Government said it has a total of over 3 million pupils and 6,000 schools in the state.
The Deputy Governor, who doubles as the Commissioner for Education, Professor Hafiz Abubakar said the figure is the highest number in any state across the country. He said over 2,000 teachers were sponsored for NCE certification by the state government.
Speaking at the maiden Kano Basic Education Week, which held at the Government House on Monday, he added that 10,000 chairs and tables for schools will be distributed along with other procurements to enhance the growth of the sector in the state.
Abubakar also highlighted the achievements recorded in the sector, saying that the theme of the event is Education for All: A Responsibility for All’.
In his remarks, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje said the essence of the Basic Education Week was to assess the sector looking at the challenges, and what the government is currently doing to address them, as well as to look onwards into the future on what needs to be done for the promotion of education in the state.
He said since the inception of his administration, the government has paid over N31 billion as salaries and allowances to over 60,000 teachers and staff at the basic level.
Ganduje added that N440 million was disbursed to the Education Promotion Committees in the 44 local government areas of the state as take-off funds for involving the communities and other individuals to assist in improving the quality of infrastructure in schools as the government alone cannot do it all.
He said these and many other efforts have been made to improve the status of the sector in the state.
He also informed the gathering that one of the most important issues that the teachers have been praying for is that of their promotion which has been put aside for over a decade due to the huge resources involved.
“My administration set up a committee and it has submitted its report and implementation is currently ongoing which will cost the government over N400 million and this sum has been allocated in this year’s budget.”
