Thousands of pupils in Kano State are forced to learn under harsh conditions as Primary School Zuba in Taka Local Government Area (LGA) remains in a state of neglect. This comes despite the ₦95.3 billion allocated to the education sector in the 2024 budget.
The dire situation was highlighted by civic technology platform MonITNG in a tweet calling for urgent intervention.
The tweet read: “This is the dilapidated state of Primary School Zuba in Taka LGA, Kano State, where over 4,321 pupils struggle to learn in deplorable conditions. Despite ₦95.3B allocated to education in 2024, urgent action is needed to ensure proper utilization. We urge you to intervene! #FixOurSchools.”
The condition of the school further reflects the growing education crisis in Kano, a state with one of Nigeria’s highest numbers of out-of-school children.
Kano’s Education Crisis
According to UNICEF, over 900,000 children in Kano are currently out of school, contributing to Nigeria’s alarming 20 million out-of-school children—the highest in the world.
Furthermore, Kano’s literacy rate remains a major concern. A recent report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that fewer than 50% of children in the state complete primary school. Many drop out due to inadequate infrastructure, economic hardship, and limited access to quality education.
Similar Cases in Other Regions
The issue is not isolated to Kano. Recently, Chronicles Reporters uncovered a similar situation in an Abuja community where a government school has pupils from Primary 2 to 6 crammed into a single classroom, underscoring the urgent need for improved educational facilities.
During a visit to Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary School in Pagada 1, Gwagwalada Area Council, 10-year-old Shaibu shared his plight: “I am not in school because I went to the farm. It’s not that I prefer farming, but our school buildings are in terrible condition.”
Observations from the community revealed that many children skip school entirely, with some seen heading to farms while others roam around the village, which is home to over 10,000 residents.
Mr. Usman, chairman of the school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), expressed frustration over repeated complaints to the FCT authorities, which have yielded no results.
“Many parents have stopped sending their children to school because the buildings are in bad shape. These children now spend their time farming instead, which is not good for the future of our country. I appeal to the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) to intervene urgently,” he pleaded.
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