….Outlines new steps to improve the sector
By Usman Usman Garba
The Kano State Education Sector Joint Steering Committee has conducted a two-day meeting at Kaduna to review progress reports from Technical Working Groups (TWGs) regarding the implementation of basic education initiatives in Kano State.
All Stakeholders in Education worked together and reviewed what had been done so far in an effort to address the problems retarding the progress of the state education sector.
Addressing the participants, the State Commissioner of Education, Alhaji Umar Haruna Doguwa, explained that following the declaration of a state of emergency on education by His Excellency Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, the ministry had taken positive steps to ensure that the policy is fully implemented to achieve the designated goals.
According to Doguwa, part of this effort is the conduct of a biannual meeting of the education sector joint steering committee, stressing that this year’s meeting was aimed at discussing the progress on the implementation of the 14-point education reform agenda and deliberating on the recommendations from the Kano Education Recovery Conference and Action plan.
“I want to also inform you that what we are expected to do during this crucial meeting includes dissemination of findings from the 2023 Annual Education Sector Performance Review, receiving a brief on Haske Basic Education for Integrated Qur’anic Schools Pilot in Kano and agreeing on the next steps,” said Doguwa.
Umar Doguwa announced that the state ministry of education had mapped out the next steps agenda to be implemented soon, which includes the conduct of massive school enrolment, distribution of instructional materials to schools across the 44 local government areas, and reopening of the boarding schools closed down by the past immediate administration.
Doguwa added that preparation had been completed to provide upkeep allowance to schools to ensure their smooth operation for quality education, adding that…. ” very soon the administration of Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf will distribute adequate furniture to schools and schools uniforms to provide an enabling learning environment.
He further urged the participants of the programme to stand on the promises being made during the meeting as their next steps of action, assuring them of the government’s support at all times.
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, the State Commissioner Ministry for Higher Education, Dr Yusuf Ibrahim Kofar Mata, maintained that as a major stakeholder, his ministry agreed to upgrade and develop a technical education system for all the state tertiary institutions to provide a befitting environment for a skills acquisition programme.
“We came here with a developed action plan framework on the education sector, and we have a lot to ensure that the meeting becomes successful. As you can see, we have already taken the next steps in the form of promotion of new policies, including new ones and the implementation of the well-established existing policies,” he said.
One of the activities carried out during the meeting was the intensive review of the education crisis response plan framework that comprised access to quality education, almajiri and alternative education system, promoting girl-child education, teacher development, teaching-learning materials and resources and curriculum development, among others.
The Biannual State Education Sector Joint Steering Committee Meeting was attended by all the relevant stakeholders including representatives of Kano State House of Assembly, representatives of Kano Emirate Council, representatives of development partners, MDAs and Civil Societies.