Over one thousand Kano State School for Arabic Studies (SAS) old students have organised a reunion with the aim of rescuing their Alma mater from dilapidation.
At an SAS Day themed, “Reminiscing yesterday”, organised by the School for Arabic Studies Old Students Association (SASOSA), issues bedeviling the educational institution were thoroughly revisited in a bid to address them.
Speaking, Grand Khadi of Kano State, Tijjani Yusuf Yakasai who was also the chief host, lamented over how the school was left in shambles.
“What informed the decision to organise this event is nothing but the deplorable condition of this giant educational institution. It was not like this before. SAS used to be one of the best in all quarters of the academic environment.
“In terms of infrastructure, one would even wonder if it is the ministry of works because it lacks nothing. This has propelled virtually everyone to seek entrance into the school and the quality of knowledge acquired there is second to none.
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“Thousands of its Alma mater have succeeded in their various fields of endeavour but sadly, today, it is all left to itself uncared for. All these are now left in the past as everything is now in a state of dilapidation from classrooms, to offices, library and the rest. The government we know cannot do everything unless we try to intervene. Hence, the need to organise this event to rescue the school from its current state.”
On his part, the Chairman, SAS Old Students Association, Umar Muhammad Yakasai expressed his displeasure on the situation and called on all concerned to put their hands on deck.
Just like its contemporaries like GGC Dala and others that have seen government and individual interventions, he called for concerted efforts to rescue the situation, urging old students to imbibe the initiative of bringing back their chairs.
Malam Muhammad Muhammad Aliyu who is the current head of school, SAS Kano said only six out of 45 classrooms which are usable today were built by the students of 1979 set currently being managed by three sections, JIS, SIS and science class.
“Currently SAS has 3,216 students, 74 teachers; 48 males, 26 females and six junior staff. From 1957, the school has graduated 8,233 students of SIS and 12,175 grade II students.”
Daily Trust gathered that the school currently has 15 staff offices and 13 toilets, 45 classrooms, 23 students’ toilets, three laboratories, one library, a resource centre, four boreholes and a hall.
The current needs of the school include 310 windows, 275 three-seater students’ seats while the teachers also are in need. The school needs to rebuild classrooms, repair windows and doors, ceilings and roofing among others.
