By Mamman MOHAMMED
In line with our commitment to reform the education sector, I hereby declare a state of emergency on Basic and Secondary education in Yobe State, to build a solid, vibrant and robust
foundation for the development of
education“ – Hon Mai Mala Buni
It was on 29th May, 2019, minutes after taking the oath of office, that the Executive Governor of Yobe State,
Hon. Mai Mala Buni, in his inaugural
address, made the famous declaration of the State of Emergency on Basic
and Secondary Education.
Yobe State had been for years listed
as one of the educationally disadvantaged states in the country. This unfortunate scenario was further compounded by the absurd and bizarre
activities of the Boko Haram insurgency which was characterised with wanton destruction and arson on private and public structures especially schools and health institutions.
For Governor Buni, the situation needs urgent change for the state to move and to move faster, “ we cannot fold our arms and continue lamenting our situation without taking urgent and desirable solutions,“ he asserted.
The last 21 months of the Buni administration reveals adoption and
execution of strategic policies, programmes and projects to effectively and efficiently move the sector to
progression.
The commencement of the journey into the state of emergency started with the first ever all inclusive summit on education. This attracted seasoned education administrators, erudite scholars, teachers and other
stakeholders to find a direction into
a new cause to improve education in
Yobe State.
The summit gave birth to a technical committee headed by former Vice Chancellor University of Maiduguri and now, Vice Chancellor Yobe State University, Prof Malah Daura with renowned scholars as members of the committee who developed a framework to rejuvenate basic and secondary education after visiting 1,430 schools across the state.
While waiting for diagnosis and
prescriptions by the technical committee, Governor Buni asked the
committee to submit its interim report for the government to commence work noting that there was no time to waste.
To further demonstrate government commitment and political will to achieve the set objective on rebirth of education in the state, the Buni administration had in 2020 and 2021 allocated the highest budgetary allocation of over 21 per cent to education.
Upon take off, the state government established Seven Model Schools with 430 classrooms in Damaturu, Buni Yadi, Potiskum, Gashua, Nguru and Geidam. Similarly, new mega schools with 210
classrooms constructed in Damaturu, Potiskum, Nguru, Geidam, and Buni Yadi to increase access to quality basic education and to decongest the overcrowded public schools in the major towns owing to the massive relocation of people displaced by insurgency.
The state government also embarked on complete rehabilitation of six senior secondary schools in the state which includes Government Secondary School Jaji Maji, Government Secondary School Jajere, Government Secondary School Kukargadu, Government Science Technical College Nguru, Government
Science Technical College Giedam
and Government Secondary School
Babbangida.
To support the girl child education, the Buni regime constructed additional hostels in all female boarding schools in the State. These are Government Girls College Damaturu, Government Girls Secondary School Ngelzarma, Government Girls Science Technical College Potiskum, Government Girls Secondary School Gadaka, Government Girls Secondary School Nguru, Government Girls Secondary School Dagona, Government Girls Secondary
School Buni Yadi and Government
Girls Science Technical College Dapchin So far, the government has procured over 85,710 relevant core subjects text books and other instructional materials worth over one billion naira. School furniture worth over One billion naira were also
supplied to Primary and Secondary
Schools across the state.
The Yobe State government also
paid over one billion naira examination fees for WAEC, NECO, NABTEB,
NBAIS and others in NTIC, NMC Abuja, Federal Science College Sokoto
and other Federal Model Schools
across the country.
A total of 7,719 Basic and Secondary Schools teachers have so far been trained on basic teaching skills and methodology of teaching in their respective schools while 200
qualified teachers were recruited to
boost manpower in English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Computer science.
It is interesting that the government implored additional strategic
measures of teaching students preparatory to intensive coaching of SS
3 students in preparatory to writing
external examinations. Government
reintroduced extension programmes
during holidays when graduating
students were recalled from the holidays for extra lessons. Government
had during the Covid-19 pandemic
implored teaching via radio and social media platforms.
– Mohammed is the director-general, Press and Media Affairs, to Governor Buni.
