By Ismail Auwal
Pictures of classrooms in public primary and secondary schools in the state in dilapidating conditions have caught the attention of social media users in Kano State.
Many people have expressed shock after seeing that elite public Science and Technical Schools are not spared from the rot.
A teacher in one of the science schools told our reporter that pupils and students sit on bare floors to learn in many classrooms.
“We used to have situations when pupils had to sit by the window and learn,” he lamented.
Many social media users are concerned that these schools that produced some of the brightest minds in Science and Engineering in the world are now in this pitiable state.
Our reporter also learned that students at Girls Science Secondary School Karaye have been de-boarded “for fear of bandit attack.”
Karaye students later transferred to Mairo Tijjani Science College, “which does not have the resources to meet the needs of the additional number.
SAHELIAN TIMES also learned that Dawakin had registered a situation where the school could only accommodate the graduating students due to the degree of the rot.
In an interview with SAHELIAN TIMES, the National President of the Kano Science Schools Old Student Association (KASSOSA), Pharmacist Ghali Sule, stated that they had performed a basic needs assessment.
“After conducting the assessment, we discovered that we require N450 million to meet the basic needs of these schools.”
In an interview, the former Public Relations Officer of the KASSOSA, Aminu Yusha, stated that they had written a letter to the governor of Kano State about the situation before their tenure expired.
Our reporter on a visit to some secondary schools not under the science board found out that some of them lack toilets for the conveniences of the teachers and students.
The restrooms of Maikwatashi Boys Secondary School have been abandoned and demolished.
Some classes at these institutions do not have seats for students to sit and learn, and others have had their roofs torn off.
Our reporter also went to Kaura Koje Primary School and discovered that pupils were sitting on the floor to receive lessons, many of which were overcrowded with students.
Teachers at these institutions declined to answer our reporter’s inquiries out of fear of being targeted by the authorities.
Social Media Reaction
Aliyu Dahiru Aliyu a journalist with HumanAngle wrote “this is the depressing state of Kano’s Science College D/ Kudu.
“This messy and dilapidated special science college produced some of the state’s best doctors and engineers.”
“Most of these students worked and prayed hard to attend the school, but they ended up in this shambles!” he added.
Dr. Ibrahim Musa also wrote that “It is upsetting to see special schools, which we regard as the heritage of northern Nigeria, deteriorate to this extent.”
“The schools have produced notable individuals not only in Nigeria, but also on a global scale.”
“If former Kano military governor Alh (Col) Sani Bello sees the current state of the legacy he left to strengthen science education, he will cry.”
The State Commissioner for Education, Muhammadu Sanusi Kiru has responded when contacted by SAHELIAN TIMES at the time of publishing this report.
