Kano reviews progress on basic education reforms

The Kano State Education Sector Joint Steering Committee conducted a two-day meeting in Kaduna on Monday to review progress reports from Technical Working Groups on the implementation of basic education initiatives in Kano State.

All stakeholders in the education sector gathered to brainstorm and assess the progress made so far, addressing the challenges hindering the advancement of the state’s education sector.

Addressing the participants, the State Commissioner of Education, Alhaji Umar Doguwa, explained that following the declaration of a state of emergency on education by His Excellency, Alhaji Abba Yusuf, the Ministry has taken positive steps to ensure that the policy is fully implemented to achieve the desired goals.

According to Doguwa, part of this effort is the conduct of a bi-annual meeting of the Education Sector Joint Steering Committee, with the objective of this year’s meeting being to discuss the progress on the implementation of the 14-point education reform agenda and to deliberate on the recommendations from the Kano Education Recovery Conference and Action Plan.

“I also want to inform you that during this crucial meeting, we are expected to disseminate findings from the 2023 Annual Education Sector Performance Review, receive a brief on the Haske Basic Education for Integrated Qur’anic Schools pilot in Kano, and agree on the next steps,” said Doguwa.

In a press statement released by the Director of Public Enlightenment, Ministry of Education, Kano State, Balarabe Kiru, the State Commissioner of Education, Umar Doguwa, disclosed that the state Ministry of Education has mapped out the next steps agenda, which will be implemented soon.

These steps include conducting a massive school enrolment drive, distributing instructional materials to schools across the 44 local government areas, and reopening the boarding schools closed down by the previous administration.

Doguwa added that preparations have been completed to provide upkeep allowances to schools to ensure their smooth operation and the provision of quality education. He also mentioned that the Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf-led administration will soon distribute adequate furniture to schools, including uniforms, to create an enabling learning environment.

He further urged the programme participants to honour the commitments made during the meeting as their next course of action, assuring them of the government’s support at all times.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, the State Commissioner for Higher Education, Dr Yusuf Mata, maintained that as major stakeholders, his ministry agreed to upgrade and develop the technical education system in all state tertiary institutions to provide a conducive environment for skills acquisition programmes.

“We arrived here with a developed action plan framework for the education sector, and we have done a lot to ensure the meeting’s success. As you can see, we have already taken the next steps in the form of promoting new policies, including the implementation of well-established existing policies,” he said.

One of the activities carried out during the meeting was an intensive review of the education crisis response plan framework, which includes access to quality education, the almajiri, and alternative education system, promoting girl-child education, teacher development, teaching and learning materials and resources, and curriculum development, among others.

Prominent among those who attended the bi-annual State Education Sector Joint Steering Committee Meeting were all relevant stakeholders, as well as representatives from the Kano State House of Assembly, the Kano Emirate Council, development partners, MDAs, and civil society organisations.