A civic group, MonITng, under the Civic Accountability Platform, has called on Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, to urgently address what it described as the “decay of public education” across the state, following the collapse of the LGEA Primary School in Gyastuwa, Sandada Ward, Bakori Local Government Area.
In a statement addressed to the governor on Monday, the group said the situation at Gyastuwa reflects the broader crisis in Katsina’s education sector and underscores years of neglect that have left public schools in ruins.
“During our recent visit to LGEA Primary School, Gyastuwa, in Sandada Ward, Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State, we were met with a deeply disturbing reality. The only primary school in this entire community, once a place of hope and learning, now lies in total ruin. Its classrooms have been completely destroyed by strong winds, leaving behind collapsed walls and an empty shell that can no longer serve its purpose,” the statement read.
The group lamented that children in Gyastuwa have stopped attending school altogether because there is no safe space for learning. According to MonITng, the collapse of the school structure has not only halted learning but has also deepened educational inequality between urban and rural children in the state.
MonITng noted that the situation mirrors the “wider decay of public education in Katsina State,” adding that despite the yearly allocation of billions of naira to the education sector, many rural communities remain abandoned.
“Both past and present administrations have failed to prioritise the future of children, showing a shocking disregard for the importance of basic education,” the statement said.
READ ALSO: Ekiti Campuses Mourn as Students Commit Suicide
The group criticised the current administration, saying that the government under Governor Dikko Umaru Radda has done little to change the situation. Despite significant budgetary allocations, there have been no major projects aimed at rebuilding schools or improving educational infrastructure across the state.
“The neglect is so severe that many children in the state are being denied their constitutional right to education — a right that should never be negotiable,” MonITng said.
The organisation warned that the neglect of education would have dire consequences for the state’s long-term development, stressing that no nation can progress when its children are denied access to basic learning and modern facilities.
Calling for decisive intervention, the civic group declared, “We are calling for a state of emergency in the education sector.”
It stated that the crisis in Gyastuwa is part of a larger pattern across the state, where countless schools remain in deplorable conditions while the number of out-of-school children continues to rise.
“It is unacceptable that despite the ₦121 billion released by UBEC to 27 states and the FCT, Katsina State has failed to utilise its share. These funds are meant to provide safe learning environments, yet they remain unspent while children’s futures are wasted,” the statement added.
MonITng emphasised that transparency and accountability in education funding must become a top priority for the state government. It urged Governor Radda to ensure that funds allocated for educational development are properly monitored, disbursed, and utilised for infrastructure and learning resources.
The group also called on lawmakers, civil society organisations, and community leaders to join in demanding accountability and to ensure that every child in Katsina State has access to safe and functional classrooms.
MonITng concluded with a direct appeal to the governor: “Education is the foundation of progress, and neglecting it means condemning an entire generation to poverty and hopelessness. The government must act with urgency to rebuild Gyastuwa Primary School and overhaul the state’s education system. Governor Radda must prioritise education now; our children’s future depends on it.”
