Since coming into office about two years ago, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe state had made it categorically clear that the situation in the education sector, particularly at the basic level was unacceptable and that his administration will do everything necessary to fix the rots inherent in the sector which was ravaged by inadequate infrastructure, large number of out of school children, absence of instructional materials and basic facilities as well as a teaching workforce that is poorly trained and ill-motivated.
In appreciating the severity of these challenges, the Yahaya government declared a state of emergency in education as a deliberate and conscious policy of channelling government’s energy and resources towards repositioning the sector for better, effective and efficient teaching and learning.
The declaration of state of emergency in education in Gombe state saw a sudden departure from the prism of a narrow window dressing to a broad and holistic approach towards addressing the numerous challenges confronting the sector, especially at the basic level which is perhaps the most critical stage in human development.
Today, and almost two years into the Yahaya administration, the situation at the education sector, particularly the basic level, is gradually and steadily changing for the better and to the benefit of younger generation. Aside from the massive construction, renovation and remodeling of schools and staff quarters, the Gombe state government has also established a state of the art Teachers Resource Centre, TRC in Kwami, the first of its kind in the Northeast sub-region for the training and retraining of teachers.
Perhaps to further demonstrate the genuine and the undying passion of the governor towards repositioning basic education for effective service delivery, the Gombe state government, through the UBEC/SUBEB intervention project commissioned a brand new mannual and e-library at the Jekadafari Primary School in the state capital. The Yahaya administration also commits to building 110 standard libraries in schools across the state. At the commissioning ceremony recently, the governor said his administration intends to spend N333 million in the construction of 110 standard libraries in schools across the state.
Governor Yahaya who expressed delight at the commissioning ceremony, also flagged off the distribution of motorcycles, instructional materials and sports facilities to public schools. He said his administration inherited huge challenges in the education sector with Gombe ranked 34th out of 36 states in the federation in external examinations.This, the governor explained, prompted his administration to immediately declare a state of emergency in the sector, particularly at the basic level in order to salvage it from collapse.
He said, “The establishment of primary school library is yet another bold step in the right direction towards addressing the challenges inherent in basic education, the importance of a library as a foundation for pupils/ students’ self motivation cannot be over-emphasized as it will greatly enhance learning in schools across the state.”
To underscore the seriousness of the library project, the governor directed education secretaries and head teachers in the state to include library period of at least 80 minutes per week on their school time table to enable students and pupils read on their own under the guidance of a trained librarian.
On the provision of other materials, Governor Yahaya said, “Government has also noted with delight the prompt procurement of 31 additional motorcycles in order to enhance monitoring of schools by quality assurance officers in all the eleven local government areas. Similarly the provision of instructional materials and sports equipment worth over 85 million naira to schools is highly commendable”.
Elated by the gesture, the Commissioner of Education, Dauda Batari Zambuk, said Governor Yahaya’s interventionist policy and commitment to education sector is beyond imagination, describing his disposition as one that will yield positive fruits and be remembered for many years to come.
The Executive Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, Hon. Babaji Babadidi, followed suit, saying as part of measures to improve the education sector in the state, the Yahaya administration has carried out sweeping reforms in the state, especially at the basic level. He said the commissioning of the e-Library is yet another bold step by the Yahaya administration towards injecting new techniques that will guarantee the desired quality in education following the declaration of a state of emergency in the sector.
As a matter of fact, the political will so far displayed by the Yahaya administration in repositioning the education sector is one that will not only improve the quality of teaching and learning in schools across the state, but also go into the annals of history to buttress the fact that one chief executive has come, seen and conquered the myriad of challenges bedeviling the education sector in Gombe state.
Bayambe writes from Tumfure, Gombe state
