The Sokoto State Commissioner for Basic Education and Secondary Education, Dr Jabbi Kilgori, says the State Government has built about 50 new Secondary Schools as the State Government’s partnership with Communities on Education has continually yielded positive results.
“Through our partnership with the communities, we get to understand demands and complaints; such information guides us on school establishment needs, teachers and students conducts, and infrastructural needs”
The Commissioner, mentioned that the Government has set up consultative committees on Educational development, at both the State and Local Government levels, emphasizing that the committees included traditional and religious leaders, Parents Teachers Association (PTA), community based organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and selected individuals.
“The committees assist government on enrolment drive campaigns, mobilise parents on continuation of studies and carry out other forms of sensitisations, including door-to-door contacts”.
Kilgori added that about 2,000 teachers have been recruited and there have been successes recorded in the Education sector including provision of adequate exercise books, furniture, enhanced feeding, equipped laboratories among others.
Dr Kilgori commended the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, for ensuring prompt response to Educational issues, adding that about 488 Qur’anic schools would be integrated into modern system of Education under ‘Integration Enrolment Plan’ this year.
He said two schools will be captured in each of the 244 political wards, pointing out that the committee had stimulated enrollment competition among the Local Governments by instituting an annual award of N1,000,000 for the highest enrollment, N600,000 for the second and N300,000 for the third highest enrollment respectively.
Some parts of Sokoto State practice Sharia and critics have accused the State of having large numbers of Almajiris. Whereas the present condition of Almajiris is as a result of neglect from Government over the years.
Governor Aminu Tambuwal made Education a priority. In the 2016 budget, the Governor gave Education the highest budgetary allocation with about N34.5bn. He also promised to build about 160 Schools of which 50 have been completed. The ‘Right to Education Bill’ was passed in Sokoto State in 2016. The Governor also sustained the ‘No Discriminatory Fees’ in public Schools that the former administration started.
In May 2017, the State made efforts to send about 200 students to study Medicine in India with most of them being girls. The Governor said the programme was part of on-going efforts to re-position the Education sector in the State.
