… Headteacher Says Situation Remains for the Past 2 Years, Decries Decay
… Community Laments Deplorable State
Hussaini Kafi in Kano
A 55- year-old Sabon Garin Jido Primary School in Talatar Jido, Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area of Kano State is in a state of decay, Africa Health Report, AHR, investigations have revealed.
The investigations show that currently, the pupils and students are taking lessons under trees nearby the collapsing school as only four out of its eight classroom blocks still function—despite the fact that parents keep bringing their children for enrolment into school.
This development is unfolding despite the Kano State Government’s declaration of a state of emergency on education and the allocation of 31 per cent of its 2025 budget to the sector—an investment that surpasses UNESCO’s minimum recommendation of 26 per cent.
Despite the condition, the school currently accommodates over 1,200 pupils, and enrolment is still growing. “Even today, I received new students,” he said. “Even my office is leaking, yet parents continue to send their children to school,” said the school’s headteacher, Malam Sagir Tukur.
Further findings by AHR, reveal that many of the pupils, especially those in Early Childhood Care and Primary 1 and 2, are forced to receive their lessons under trees due to the lack of adequate classrooms.
As a result, community members say the situation exposes children to harsh weather conditions such as rain, scorching sun, and wind, raising serious concerns about their safety and learning environment.
Confirming the development to AHR, the school’s headteacher, Malam Sagir Tukur, revealed that four classrooms had remained in a deplorable condition for nearly two years, and repeated calls for intervention had yielded no results.
He said, “When it rains, we are forced to send pupils in ECC, Primary 1, and Primary 2 back home because of the dilapidated classrooms. And when the weather is hot, we resort to teaching them under trees.”
According to him, the matter has been reported to all relevant authorities, including the ward councillor, the local government chairman, and the school’s Parents Teachers Association (PTA).
“The town councillor even visited the school and acknowledged the poor state of the buildings, but he said he could not afford to reconstruct the classrooms,” Tukur added.
“When we pack important documents, we wrap them in plastic bags to protect them from rain,” he added.
Also speaking, Kabiru Yusha’u, Head of the Talatar Jido Youth Educational Development Association, lamented that despite the school’s long history, it still lacks basic infrastructure.
“This school has existed for over five decades, yet it still lacks basic infrastructure,” Yusha’u said. “We have about 300 pupils enrolled, yet only four classrooms are functional. The remaining four are completely unfit for learning.”
He said the association had written several times to both local and state governments but received no tangible response. “Our children are learning under dangerous conditions,” he said.
Yusha’u therefore appealed to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to urgently intervene, especially now that the rainy season has begun. “We’re appealing to His Excellency to urgently come to our aid before something tragic happens.”
A resident of the town, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that Governor Yusuf had concentrated political appointments in his home area of Rijiyar Gwangwan, formerly known as “Itaya,” despite having strong ties to Talatar Jido.
“The governor grew up in this town under the care of his uncle, who even married off his daughter to him,” the resident said. “He still maintains a house here, and this ward gave him a large number of votes in the last election.”
Meanwhile, the Vice Chairman of Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area, Malam Shuaibu Ali, dismissed the claims, insisting that the school was in “good condition.”
Despite photo evidence and testimonies provided by the association, Ali maintained that “the structure is properly in good condition,” and declined further comment.
“I have already instructed the councillor representing the ward to investigate the matter and get back to me,” he added.
