Kano State Government has been advised to lower taxes, provide free in -service training and downward review of guidelines for private schools registration, to uplift the standards of education.
This is part of recommendations of the Kano unregistered non -state school baseline report, supported by Partnership for learning for all in Nigeria (PLANE), held in Kano.
According to PLANE, the recommendations will pave way, for people from lower and intermediate income groups to have access to private schools, with qualitative teachers, to reduce out of school children.
The research conducted across 11 local government areas of Bichi, Bunkure, Dawakin Tofa, Gabasawa, Karaye, Minjibir, Rimin Gado, Takai, Ungoggo, Warawa and Wudil, focused on 3, 368 unregistered private schools.
“144 non-state schools (36.5%) includes Parents’-Teachers’ Associations (PTA), 72 schools with School Based Management Committees (SBMC) or (CBMC) present, accounting for 18.3% of all schools, and 22.8%of non-state schools have a School Development Plan”
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the report presentation, Kano State Chairman School Based Management Committee (SBMC), Alhaji Tijjani Haladu Baraya pointed out that, the report had provided an insight into the percentage and number of unregistered schools in the state.
He highlighted that, the research had captured private, islamiyya and Tsangaya schools, which were often neglected by development partners, when collating the number of out of school children.
Also speaking, the Director Research and Statistics Kano State Private and Voluntary Institutions Board, Hamisu Muhammad explained that, the research by PLANE, served as an eye opener for government to take the necessary action regarding unregistered schools in kano.
On the need for more efforts to improve and move Qur’an Tsangaya Schools to global standards, Director Special Kano State Quranic and Islamiyya Schools Management Board (KSQISMB), Malam Aminu K. Hassan stressed on adequate sensitization to achieve the desired objectives.
Abubakar Abdullahi Yahaya from Independent Schools Proprietors Association (ISPAC), highlighted that, the study sampled 11 Local Government Areas in Kano, where it was discovered that some schools were operating without licence, while others have never been supervised, on teaching in conformity with laid down rules and regulations.
Others who spoke includes representatives from Association of Model Islamic Schools (AMIS), Association of Proprietors of Private School (NAPPS), among others.
Partnership for learning for all in Nigeria (PLANE), is a seven year education programme funded by the UK government, to invest in a more inclusive and effective education system in Nigeria.
The programme’s goal is to ensure that , the government of Nigeria and the UK foreign, Common Wealth and Development Office (FCDO), shared commitment to drive sustainable improvements, in learning and outcomes for Nigerian children.
KHADIJAH ALIYU
