Despite the insurgency, education makes progress in Yobe

Since creation, the human existence has been cultivated and shaped by education. Therefore, education has undoubtedly remained the most vital key in unlocking hidden treasures and opportunities for development.For the past 23 years, this vital tool did not enjoy the desired attention in Yobe state until 2007 when the state government, in compliance with UNESCO […]

Since creation, the human existence has been cultivated and shaped by education. Therefore, education has undoubtedly remained the most vital key in unlocking hidden treasures and opportunities for development.
For the past 23 years, this vital tool did not enjoy the desired attention in Yobe state until 2007 when the state government, in compliance with UNESCO benchmark on resource allocation to education, commenced committing 26 per cent of its annual budget to the development of the sector. This commitment has spurred huge enrolment of children, especially the girl in schools throughout the state. The development gave us hope to acquire education as an instrument for change for a sustainable future.
However, the attack by insurgents on schools killing students, destruction of infrastructures and instructional materials in some schools in the state, had almost extinguished the new spirit and zeal to pursuance of education amongst the people, but this was only temporary and short-lived.
Governor Ibrahim Gaidam’s directive for the immediate rehabilitation of 279 classrooms destroyed by insurgents quickly rekindled the peoples’ faith in education as a veritable tool for future.
For the first time, the people had shown a lot of faith in education and, the resilience to obtain education in the face of threats and risks. Parents, who earlier withdrew their wards from schools at the peak of the attacks, have relented and sent them back while others transferred them to other schools. Since the establishment of all the schools under the old Borno State, none was fenced to provide a sense of security to the students, teachers and parents.
The schools’ perimeters were porous and vulnerable under successive administrations in the state until, 2013 when the government constructed fences in all the schools and, this gave parents, teachers and students a measure of confidence to remain in school and continue with their education. It is gratifying to see education not just back on its feet again but growing stronger as graduates from the state university join their counterparts across the country for the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) scheme.
In spite of all the challenges, I am proud to say educational development in Yobe has confirmed with the best practices as the state won the 2013 Exams Ethics Awards for best practices.
Receiving the award in Abuja recently, Governor Gaidam noted that “the decision of the Exam Ethics to consider Yobe for this award may not be unconnected with our untiring efforts, determination and total commitment to joining hands with all stakeholders to stamp out examination malpractices and improve the standard of education in Yobe”, and assuring that the honour would inspire government to strive harder and continue in our effort to fight examination malpractice in all ramifications and Yobe State was a role model.
Everyone would agree with the Chairman of Exam Ethics Marshals, Chief Ike Onyechere, when he remarked that academic dishonesty and examination malpractices posed serious challenges. “The result is professionally unethical and incompetent workforce, including doctors, nurses, engineers, lawyers, accountants, business managers, public servants and teachers.’’ This is a negative practice is we do not see happening in Yobe.
Today in the state, many parents have withdrawn their wards from private schools to public schools following employment of over 10,000 university graduates, HND, NCE and OND holders by the state government to teach in junior secondary schools and primary schools. The N650 million expended on payment of bursary and scholarship to about 9000 students studying within and outside the country in the last two years had no doubt provided relief to many parents and families.
This assistance provided to the students studying various courses including doctorate students in tertiary institutions  in overseas and within the country will impact possitively on the needed workforce with qualitative service delivery to the generality of the people.
The reconstruction of the structures destroyed, provision of instructional materials and recruitment of qualified personnel has given every child in Yobe state the opportunity to right to education.
As a parent and Yobe resident, I am elated to see a responsive and responsible government at work in our dear state. The complementary resilience of parents and students in our quest to obtain quality education for a sustainable future has made us victorious over the vicious insurgents. In the end, the insurgents will fail.

Al-Ameen can be reached at [email protected]