The Registrar of the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies, NBAIS, Professor Muhammad Shafi’u, has wept on the sorry condition of the public primary schools in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State, calling on Governor Nasir El-Rufai to arrest the situation.
The registrar, who is also the Wakilin Makarantar Zazzau, made the call at the maiden edition of ‘Home-coming and Launching of School Album’, organised for the old pupils of the Sarki Ja’afaru LGEA-Primary School, Kofar Gayan Zaria City.
Mr Shafi’u, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the event, could not help but burst into sporadic weeping at the discovery of the deplorable condition the school in question is allowed to operate at.
He said: “With a history traceable to 1942 when it was recognised as ‘Town School No.3’, the Sarki Ja’afaru LGEA Primary School deserves better attention than it currently is getting.”
However, while decrying how some well-to-do persons in the community shy away from owning up the task of rebuilding educational institutions in the area, Mr Shafi’u promised to do everything possible to come to the rescue of the school.
In his remark, the Member representing Zaria Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Abbas Tajudeen, who was represented by Bar. Aminu Ramalan, an old pupil of the school, promised to do everything possible to see to the development of the school.
The lawmaker, who was the Chief Launcher of the School Album, acknowledged the need for revamping the school in order to attain its pride of place.
He, therefore, advised that a committee of spirited individuals should forthwith be constituted to that effect.
Mr Jajudeen purchased a copy of the school Album at the rate of hundred thousand naira only.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Central Working Committee of Zaria Educational Development Association, ZEDA, Dr. Alimi Bello, who is also an old pupil of the school, called for an expansion of the school due to over-crowdedness.
According to him, as a short term solution, the school should be decongested in order to avert infectious diseases and other epidemics.
He, however, commended the state government efforts at revamping the education sector, especially the continuous employment of qualified teachers into various schools across the state.
In his remarks, the Education Secretary, Zaria Local Government Area, Muktar Maude, pointed out that there were a number of interventions initiated by the state government in partnership with other Non-Governmental Organisations in the area of capacity building of teachers.
According to him, whiteboards along with other educational interventions would soon be introduced in the schools.
“However, our challenge is the security of these schools because, according to our findings, not all of these schools have security personnel manning the buildings.
“The ones that are secured would be provided with these interventions but Sarki Ja’afaru LGEA Primary School will benefit from the interventions,” he assured.
Earlier in her speech, the Head-teacher of the school, Amina Muhammad Dayyabu, recalled that since inception in 1942, the school had graduated 6,962 pupils.
She, however, said that the school is grappling with over-population as the number of students at present rakes at 7,000 who are crammed into 12 classrooms.
While commending the state and Zaria local governments for their continuous efforts at making teaching and learning better, Mrs Dayyabu lamented the lack of tables and chairs, functional lavatories and other teaching aids in the school.
She, therefore, called on the government to build staffroom, computer laboratories as well as electrical connection in the school in order to keep abreast with the current teaching standards.
