By Muhammad Miftahuddeen Isa
The plight of secondary school students in government schools across Bauchi State is getting worse by the day, and their situation, if left unattended, would do a lot of harm to the future of the state.
Education is the key to civilization; it influences growth and frustrates mediocrity in thoughts and aspirations. It therefore becomes pertinent to inculcate the right mindset in students, teachers and those saddled with the responsibility of providing quality education to our brethren. However, in the course of orienting our brothers and sisters in secondary schools on how to succeed in life, we were baffled to learn that our schools lack adequate teachers to teach and guide students towards a prosperous future.
Recently, the Bauchi State Law Students’ Association of Nigeria was at Sa’adu Zungur Model Secondary School for a career awareness programme. The school is one of the most reputed among the public schools in the state, and naturally, we would expect their standards to fit their public image.
It was both an interesting and impactful programme for everyone until we started dishing out questions and as expected, the students answered passionately. As is the practice, we allowed for questions from the audience. But the one that occupied my mind was when a student said there was no Literature in English teacher in the school. The student added that in the whole of Bauchi State, there were only two of them, one of whom is deceased now.
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The government is doing its best but the question is, under this circumstance, how could our students be qualified to study law? Again the student said there were no sufficient teachers to teach Government.
If this is what we found out in less than the two hours we had been in the school, how much more does the Ministry of Education know? How much more do individual school managers know? And how much more do we need to know before we act?
It is common knowledge that even the commissioner and directors of the Ministry of Education, and principals and teachers of public schools do not have their wards enrolled in public schools, and that has contributed to the criminal neglect of the schools. How can you be selling to people what you cannot use yourself? How can you ask people to trust the institution you steer when you do not trust such institutions with your children?
I know many schools face the same or worse challenges, and it is equally public knowledge that the state government has the means to build roads; why would those funds not be diverted to support the God-given talents of the thousands of students?
Why would parents have the energy to supervise the distribution of palliatives but turn a deaf ear to the intellectual sufferings of their wards? Why would student unions continue to waste funds on frivolous events even after knowing the problems bedeviling our brothers and sisters in schools?
To fight this menace, it is required that all hands should be on deck to champion the change required to restore the confidence of the public in public schools. The government should provide a conducive environment for learning; engage the services of qualified teachers for every subject— in every school— and improve the welfare of both the teaching and non-teaching staff.
Adequate measures should also be put in place to make sure that those saddled with responsibilities discharge them effectively. Parents should be willing to inquire about the things being taught in schools through diligent inspection of notes and friendly conversations with their wards.
Student union leaders should accept the responsibility that comes with their titles; they should make quality education a priority— through advocacy and tangible projects towards the achievement of access to quality education and career guidance.
Private organisations should utilise the resources available for their corporate social responsibility, or a reasonable percentage thereof, to support the government in the realization of access to quality education.
Every one of us must do what they can to curtail this menace that feeds on the foundation of our civilization and progress.
Muhammad Miftahuddeen Isa can be contacted via [email protected]
