Kano’s education gains result of deliberate reforms — Gov Yusuf

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has attributed the progress recorded in the state’s education sector to deliberate policy reforms, sustained investment, and a strong commitment to improving access to quality education.

The governor made the remarks through his Technical Adviser on Education Reform, Haladu Muhammad, who represented him at the International Parliamentary Roundtable on Reading Revolution held at the House of Lords, Westminster, in the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

His position was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa.

According to Yusuf, his administration declared a state of emergency in the education sector immediately after assuming office, describing education as the foundation for sustainable development and prosperity.

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“It is not just a coincidence that Kano is currently leading in education reform. It is a deliberate policy choice of our administration. We have consistently maintained that education is our number one priority, and we are walking the talk,” he said.

The governor said the state government had consistently allocated about 30 per cent of its annual budget to education for three consecutive years, describing Kano as one of the highest investors in education in Nigeria, with spending above the internationally recommended benchmark.

He also said his administration had intensified efforts to address teacher shortages and improve the quality of teaching through recruitment and continuous professional development.

According to him, the government has recruited 16,000 teachers within its first three years in office to strengthen teaching and learning across public schools while also investing in regular training to enhance classroom instruction.

Yusuf further disclosed that the administration had launched large-scale interventions to reduce the number of out-of-school children and had invested heavily in the construction, rehabilitation, and expansion of school infrastructure across the state.

He added that the government had introduced reforms aimed at strengthening teachers’ professional development, promoting girls’ education, and improving gender equality and equitable access to quality education.

The governor said the international recognition being accorded to Kano’s education reforms validates the administration’s strategy for rebuilding the sector and serves as encouragement to sustain the momentum.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring that every child in Kano has access to quality education, expressing confidence that the state would continue to serve as a model for education reform in Nigeria and across Africa.