The Kano State government on Sunday threatened to take decisive action against parents whose children are found roaming the streets during school hours.
The Commissioner for Education, Umar Doguwa, issued the warning during a stakeholders meeting with women on ‘the significance of girls education for accelerated socio-economic development’ of the state.
Doguwa said the government will not tolerate absenteeism, lateness and children roaming the streets during school hours.
He said that the state government has made education free, just as it has provided means of transportation to transport the children to schools, among other measures, hence the need for parents to complement government efforts by sending their wards to school.
He said, “When we came on board, we met the education sector in a pathetic situation. We have 5.3 million students in the state, we met about 4.5 students sitting on the floor without chairs and without teaching materials.
“The previous administration shut down 28 boarding schools. We have over 32,000 students in those schools, after the closure, we now have about 9,000 students in boarding schools. Most of them are now in day schools.
“So if the government under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf allocated 29.7 per cent of budget on education, promise to pay salary on time, repair about 70 high capacity vehicles to transport the children to school, we monitor the conduct of the teachers, what about children who don’t go to school and the parents whose role it is to send their wards to school?
“So the component that is remaining now is the student aspect and we decided to reach out to the parents to know the importance of education, and their commitment to allow their children to be in school in good time.
“If we find a child coming late to school, we will invite the parents, explain the situation to them and tell them we want them (children) to come by 8:00 am. And if they didn’t heed the call we will do the needful.
“The way we take measures on teachers who come to school late, so we will take measures on children who come to school late.
“Parents must realize they have a responsibility to send their children (both male and female) to school.”
On her part, the Secretary, High Level Women Association, HILWA, Hajia Ladidi Fagge, traced the high number of out-of-school girls to the closure of the boarding schools in the state.
He noted that most of the girls who were attending the boarding schools are now engaged in street hawking.
She however solicited for the support of the parents, especially women, to complement the government’s efforts by ensuring that their children go to school.
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