On education’s good impression in Katsina

The government also introduced equally opportunity approaches in enrolment through an all-inclusive education for both urban and rural dwellers. It is this effort in meeting its obligations as well as partnership counter funding as evidenced from the government’s prompt payment of, and utilization of matching grants, access and utilization of training as well as special […]

The government also introduced equally opportunity approaches in enrolment through an all-inclusive education for both urban and rural dwellers. It is this effort in meeting its obligations as well as partnership counter funding as evidenced from the government’s prompt payment of, and utilization of matching grants, access and utilization of training as well as special educations funds that education is now for all in the state.
As acquisition of knowledge has always come with a price, nations and societies strived to invest in their future by investing in the education sector, so significant is this sector that it remains the only one with several bodies established by the United Nations to ensure universal attainment. It is this significant requirement for national development that the government of Katsina State prioritized since its inception in 2007 through the girls education project, a system introduced to improve girl child school enrolment, retention, completion and transition. Conditional cash transfer initiative of N5000 each to mothers of girl children enrolled in schools was to become a turning point in the drive to get back the girl child to school.
The sector was also prioritized with the highest budgetary allocation commensurate with the world standard since 2007. Concerted efforts were introduced that include massive investment in the sector leading to increase in enrolment from only 1 million pupils to over 1.4m pupils today in the 2,203 primary schools in the state.
As at today the state has the highest number of teacher to pupil ratio of 1-60 while it boasts of a cumulative teacher per school ratio of 10 to 1.This statistic is not only unprecedented in the history of primary education in the country; it also shows the commitment and determination to provide qualitative and quantitative education to the teeming children in the state.
Already the state is now one of the most educated in terms of enrolment, completion rate and retention compared to all the 36 states in the federation. One of the most challenging aspects of the education sector is the girl child education. The state government under the current administration has invested hugely to ensure every girl child of school age is enrolled through the condition cash transfer to encourage parents to send their girl children to school. As at today the state has one of highest enrolment of the girl child in the country.
Evident from the influx of children from neighboring states to enroll in schools in Katsina and the seeming improvement in the outcome of several examinations conducted locally and internationally, the drive for excellence in the sector by this administration is commendable.
Kabir Saulawa wrote from Katsina and can be reached at [email protected]