Civil Society Action Coalition on Education (CSACEFA), Kano state chapter has called for increased funding for education and timely release of funds to move the state forward.
A lecturer with the Department of Adult Education Bayero University Kano (BUK), who doubles as CSACEFA Kano state coordinator Dr. Auwal Halilu, made the indication, during a one day capacity building workshop on education and analysis tools.
According to him, the education target is yet to be met, despite the recommendation of at least 15% – 20% of public spending allocated to the education sector, for the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals SDG 4.
The coordinator noted that, allocation to the education sector in Kano state budget is above 20% but releases are far below expectation.
Dr. Auwal highlighted that, the education sector is facing numerous challenges from basic childhood learning to tertiary level, adding that, projects captured in budget do not adequately reflect the needs and expectations of educational transformation.
“Persons in authority and duty bearers are failing to do the right thing because they are benefiting from the crisis and negative situation”
“Unfortunately the government over the years has been initiating different programme, which have not contributed to social accountability and inclusive development” he said
Also speaking, the co-chair Kano accountability forum on education (K-SAFE), and President the Institute of Community Development Practitioners in Nigeria, said the purpose of the workshop is to help practitioners and civil society actors, to understand score cards and charts tracking for use, in making decisions in budget tracking.
He hinted that, at the end of the training, participants advocated for the increase in budgetary, and releases for effective and efficient utilization, of national and state level basic education, funds by December 2023, and to enhance participants knowledge in the budgetary process.
“About 50,000 additional classrooms and teachers are needed across the state”
“robust intervention would greatly improve education status in the state”.
Some of the participants who spoke to Radio Nigeria, Kano state based management committee chairman (SBMC), Alhaji Tijjani Haladu Baraya and Safiyanu Bichi of Kano budget working group, described the workshop as apt.
Radio Nigeria reports that, the coalition charged the state government and relevant stakeholders to support girl child, adult , almajiri , nomadic education, basic/post basic education as well as tertiary institutions, to move Kano to international standards.
KHADIJAH ALIYU
