Educational Development in Yobe and Fika old students association -By Abba Dukawa

Yobe state  had its own bitter taste of the Boko Haram insurgency, which practically stalled destroyed many schools in the state immediately on the day  Governor Mai Mala Buni took over the affairs of the state, he had unveiled his administration’s commitments in improving  primary and secondary education in the state.

It is a known during his inauguration speech on May 29, declared a state of emergency on basic and secondary education few minutes after he took over the affairs of the state. Declare a state of emergency on primary and secondary education in the state. Its apt to quote him 

In line with Buni’s commitment to reform the education sector, I hereby declare a state of emergency on primary and secondary education in the state, to build a solid, vibrant and robust foundation for the development of education. Government would as a matter of deliberate policy continue to provide the necessary support to move education in the state to greater heights.”

The declaration declare a state of emergency on state education is an admission that things are not where they are supposed to be. It means that the familiar perception of the problems that confront the state and  must be creatively challenged.

To be fair  government cannot be completely  blame for poor educational facilities; but the communities and Old Students association, in they  own right, has a vital role to play in the supporting alma mater while communities also nedd to support government efforts in , delivery and improvement of education. 

Politics aside, there is need for Old Students Association to pay back what the government offered them  during the good days instead of  politicize alleged lack decent educational facilities in some schools in the state. 

HMB’s administration recorded tremendous achievements greatly in  health care delivery to schools, roads, agriculture in spite of the security challenges in Yobe state.  Yobe State is home to about a third of Nigeria’s 13.2 million out-of-school children. In order to improve and encourage pupil’s enrolment in  schools in the state HMB’s  administration partner with the Federal Government for the implementation of the Home Grown Feeding Programme.

The  administration  has made a significant landmark in revolutionising the educational sector in the state Buni convened the state’s first education summit to proffered solutions to the sector past track his administration goal in the development of the state education sectors.

Like it or not the   administration has increased school enrolment in the state, Some    structures burnt down by the Boko Haram insurgents renovated,    establish two model primary schools and two model junior secondary schools in each of the state three senatorial districts to expand access to education by the school age.

Hundreds of  schools have so far  been rehabilitate, new ones in the local government councils affected by the insurgency and other local government area of the state have been constructed in line with the state of emergency declared by the administration on education. Also new Model schools  were  constructed  in Damaturu, Gashua, Potiskum, Geidam, Nguru and Buni Yadi  all Buni’s administration effort to provide conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning.  

Thousands teachers have been trained and retrained to enhance manpower requirements of the schools and thousands fresh  teachers has been employed despite state with lean financial resources. administration procured and distributed over N1billion text books, laboratory equipment and chemicals. Classroom and office furniture were procured and distributed to schools across the state. State higher institutions also not left out in spite mountainous challenges facing the state, the  administration has   greatly  support the state owned tertiary institutions to be centres of academic excellence, and also  to produce adequate, trained and qualified manpower to serve the state and beyond.

In view of the great loss suffered by the education sector from insurgency, the  administration is determined to move the State away from an educationally disadvantaged to an educationally prosperous one. 

Buni’s administration  already  partner and seek for special intervention from the Federal Ministry of Education, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TET Fund),  International Organizations to support Yobe state government in its  commitment to rebuilding education in the State.

 In my view, on recent video posted on social media by   Fika Government Secondary Old Boy on  School facilities; In deal society, communities and Old Students Association are complementing   govenment’s efforts, in  providing   educational facilities in their immediate environment like what peoples seeing in the southern part of the country. It should a good for Fika Old Students Associations to be bipartisan not to be critical  government efforts.   It would be a great insensitivity for them  to blame the state government on decay of school facilities. What support  they offered  to their alma Mater in they capacities as  Old Boy of Fika Governor Buni’s deserve commendation for his concern on education, especially at the all levels.   

To be fair without  Government alone cannot provide educational facilities to all state own schools  as there is need for total support of School Based Management Committees (SBMCs) and Old Students association, in every communities. 

Fika Old Students Associations and other alike  Old Boys forgot even before HMB secession to power in  May 29/2019, the insurgents has destroyed many  educational facilities  in the state making many pupils to abandon schools for their safety.  In spite  of this challange Governor Buni has displaying his  political will toward   the  educational development  across the state.

Undeniably Buni’s administration  take proactive steps to rehabilitate and equip to standard at least one Science Secondary School in each senatorial zone in the State.Community and old students association  participation in they  own right, has a vital role to play in the provision, educational facilities and improvement of education, peasants, government, traditional and religious leaders everyone  has a stake in it.

 Dukawa can be reached at abbahydukawa@gmail.com.