Saving Kano’s Failing Schools

Saving Kano’s failing schools is not just an educational mission, it is a fight for the future of an entire generation.

Basic education in public schools across Kano State is fast approaching its graveyard, through a slow, and painful decay that threatens the very foundation of learning. 

Unless urgent action is taken, the system may be laid to rest sooner than anyone expects.

Today, many parents no longer see public schools as a place of hope for their children. Instead, they see institutions of despair, broken classrooms, absent teachers, and dreams slowly fading. 

That is why a large portion of the population struggles to enrol their children in private schools, even when it means cutting other family expenses. 

Only those who are economically gasping for breath can still afford to send their children to the collapsing public school system.

Saving Kano’s Failing Schools

The irony is striking, many teachers and principals of public schools no longer trust the very institutions they work for. They, too, send their own children to private schools. 

Just as some government doctors own private hospitals, many academics earning salaries from the Ministry of Education also own or manage private schools. 

This conflict of interest speaks volumes about the rot in the public education system. It is no longer about passion for teaching, but it’s about survival and personal interest.

Recently, a whistleblower named Dan Bello exposed the deplorable condition of public schools in Kano State.

His revelations shocked many people, but for those who have long studied or experienced the situation firsthand, it was hardly surprising. 

The system has been failing for years. Crumbling walls, overcrowded classrooms, outdated textbooks, and teachers who have lost their sense of duty. 

Yet, Bello’s effort deserves commendation because it reignited a much-needed public conversation about the state of education in the state.

Beyond Infrastructural Decay

Dan Bello’s reports primarily focus on the physical decay, leaking roofs, broken desks, and dilapidated classrooms. But the problem runs much deeper. 

The infrastructure is only one face of a multi-headed monster.

The others include unqualified teachers, lack of supervision, and a worrying culture of indiscipline among some staff. 

In many schools, teachers show up only twice a week. Some come late and leave early, with no fear of sanctions. Education in such an environment becomes a routine, not a mission.

A teacher is expected to be in class from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. every working day. Yet stories abound of teachers who treat school attendance as a favour to the system, not an obligation. 

Saving Kano’s Failing Schools

It’s not uncommon to hear a teacher say, “I only come to school on Mondays and Thursdays.”

When this attitude becomes normal, it kills any chance of academic excellence. The children suffer, and the cycle of ignorance continues.

The Role of Leadership and Accountability

Whatever Dan Bello’s intention in exposing these issues, one must believe it was for the betterment of the state. Encouragingly, the current governor seems to be responding. 

This gives hope that, perhaps, the tide might turn if the momentum is sustained.

We cannot afford another administration that buries its head in the sand while schools crumble around us.

It’s also important to acknowledge the mistakes of the past. The previous administration’s neglect of public schools was catastrophic.

Many school lands were sold to build corner shops and private houses. While others were abandoned and left to rot. 

However, now is not the time for endless blame games. The people of Kano voted for a new government with the expectation of reform. This is the time to fix the damage and rebuild the system from its roots.

The Numbers Paint a Grim Picture

In a recent post by the Director-General of the Kano Bureau of Statistics, the situation was laid bare in numbers. He wrote:

“The attached chart presents estimated statistics on the total number of public primary and secondary schools in Kano. There are approximately 9,136 public primary and secondary schools across the state.

Saving Kano’s Failing Schools

Based on assessments, if 70 per cent of these schools are dilapidated and require renovation, that would mean about 6,395 schools need repair.

At a rate of 100 schools renovated per month, it would take approximately 64 months, or 5 years and 4 months, to fully address the problem.

So, it is unrealistic to expect that all dilapidated schools can be fixed within such a short time frame of two years.”

This revelation chilled my blood and set me thinking deeply about the quickest and most realistic way to revive our education.

If it will take over five years to fix the buildings alone, how long will it take to fix the minds that teach within them?

A Path to Revival

After much reflection, I arrived at a few practical steps that could help revive the system before it collapses entirely.

Establish Mega Schools:
The government should create six fully equipped “mega schools” , three primary and three secondary, across strategic parts of the state. 

This can be done within a single year. The construction of the NWU Senate Building took less than twelve months, so it’s achievable. Each of these schools should have modern facilities, qualified teachers, and room for at least 1,000 students. 

Saving Kano’s Failing Schools

The goal is to replicate the excellence once seen at Day Science, Dawakin Tofa, and Dawakin Kudu, schools that produced some of the finest medical doctors, engineers, and academics in Nigeria and beyond. 

Employ and Evaluate Competent Teachers:
Quality education begins with quality teachers. The government must recruit well-trained, passionate educators and introduce a system to measure their performance. 

The difference between public and private school teachers often lies not in pay but in accountability. Public teachers earning ₦70,000 monthly should not be outperformed by private teachers earning ₦30,000. 

In private schools, regular supervision and evaluation keep teachers effective.

The same must apply in public schools, strict monitoring, clear targets, and transparent assessments.

Introduce a Modest Fee System:
There’s no such thing as free education. Even minimal fees help maintain facilities and create a sense of ownership among parents. Let parents contribute a small amount so that schools can sustain themselves. 

This revenue can fund repairs, buy teaching materials, and motivate staff. Education that costs nothing often ends up being valued at nothing.

A Hopeful Tomorrow

If these reforms are implemented faithfully, Kano could witness a quiet revolution in education. By 2031, the projected time for completing infrastructural renovations, the state could produce at least 5,000 high-quality graduates from the new model schools. 

These students would not only compete favourably with their peers in private institutions but could also inspire a return of confidence in the public system.

Saving Kano’s Failing Schools

The decay in Kano’s education sector is not irreversible. What it needs is vision, courage, and consistent action. The graveyard is near, but the burial can still be stopped. 

With the right policies, determined leadership, and genuine accountability, the story of Kano’s public schools can be rewritten to one of revival and pride.