Falling standard of education: The need for freedom
By Isa Ado Abubakar
Falling standard of education has always been a subject of discussion particularly among the concerned individuals. This phenomenon can be attributed to many factors. The major ones as regarded generally include human and material resources.
Nevertheless, the change in attitude equally dictates the pace proportionally to the said factors. However, dedication, good attitude coupled with feeling of humanity constituted the variables that have led to the acquisition of qualitative education in those days, when materialism had no vacancy in the individual’s mind.
Standard of education over a decade started to have declined gradually and originated right from primary school level due to neglect by authorities concerned. Idealy, it should have received all form of priority attention since it is the bedrock of education acquired through Western school system.
Untill recently, employment of teachers was dictated by politics irrespective of credibility. The sub-sector has even witnessed the worst scenario when teaching in primary schools was considered as a last alternative for jobless, particularly males and females who do not have any relation with teaching in what ever form. This category constitutes significant portion in the workforce.
Congestion of pupils in our primary schools is another factor which contributes immensely towards the anarchy. Admissions into primary schools are not regulated by authorities. Headmasters are alpha and omega as far as enrolment of pupils is concerned.
Manageable class size is a necessary condition for effective teaching and learning. As a result of violation of the said condition, it is extremely difficult for a teacher, no matter how efficient, considering the caliber of learners he deals with, to properly assess, teach and impart sound knowledge in order to have well groomed and adequately informed products who are equal to the challenging task a head of them.
Leadership is another factor which contributes in no small amount to the menace. Appointment of school head is mostly done as reward for sycophancy, favouritism, politics and the worst, is interest of those in authorities with a view to establishing boys for protection of their common goal and returns. The imposition of these kind of leaders in our schools has resulted to diversion of school resources into personal use or for servicing the godfather; domination which leads to despute between the head and his lieutenants; encouragement of sycophancy; poor administration leading to the violation of guiding principles; poor management-staff relation and frustration of qualified and competent staff.
The struggle for number one position at secondary school level increases at an alarming rate. The era of merit appointment into such an exalted office is gradually becoming a history. Equally, the chances of those with qualities to be in that office is limited because lack godfathers is becoming very narrow and slippery.
I could remember the level of competition when the seat of principal at one of our secondary schools along BUK Road was vacant as a result of death, more than 20 competitors had competed for the post. At the end, the most highly connected got the honey seat. The same thing is happening in one secondary school currently along Airport Road, where about 36 competitors are desperate in need of the seat. That has been the trend and it is obvious to state that the seat is surrounded by honey which awaits the most connected at the detriment of all parties in the school system.
Every right thinking individual can reason with me that it is the honey which creates the intensive desire to occupy the number one seat due to change of attitude to material accumulation instead of service to humanity. Hence, this call for change of attitude is intended to check the trend and pave way to merit appointment. This is because, the present criteria has seriously hindered the development of education in the state for the simple fact that the present state of our schools should have been better if resources were fully utilized judiciously. Moreover, it is the qualitative leadership in our schools that can change direction at which education is going now.
The amount of money that goes to schools from local government councils, state ministry of education, internally generated revenue in form of school fees, science practical fees and other charges (for male students) is enough to overcome many problems being faced within the school system. But as a result of mismanagement, diversion, coupled with skills of presenting fake expenditure records, the problems in our schools are still compounding.
The change in attitude and perception necessitate the need to embark on reform which suits our condition and environment. The following recommendations are very vital in that direction.
That the idea of NCE as a minimum teaching qualification in primary school is a welcome development and it serves as a vital step in controlling the entry pattern into the profession, except professionals. However, possession of minimum qualification should be augmented by seminars, syposium, sensitization workshop and so on in order to address the issue of half-baked products. Moreover, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) should liaise with the state government to establish proposed Teachers Development Centre (TDC) which will serve as avenue for such senitization and training for teachers in the state, particularly during vacation as it is contained in writer’s letter to the executive governor of Kano state, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, published in the Daily Triumph of January1, 2007.
Admissions into primary school should equally be centralized within our respectiveLocal Education Areas (LEAs). This measure will reduce congestion problems in our primary schools. The role of headmasters will only be supplied on information of vacancies available in their schools to LEAs at the end of every third-term. It should be the responsibility of LEAs to design admission form and placement of pupils within the schools available in the locality. Admission into primary schools should be exclusively reserved to LEAs only not headmasters. This will enable them make planning and projections.
Leadership is an important factor which determines success or otherwise of almost everything. It is in view of its importance in schools, strong and reliable measures needed to be imposed to check the manner in which appointment of both headmasters and principals are being made. The reform will enable credible individuals to assume leadership of our schools that can check the falling trend using the resources available. moreover, justice, fairness and equity should be the guiding principles.
The appointment of principals should follow the system of election just like what we have in the universities, colleges of education and polytechnics. The office should rotate within the senior offices of the school for three-year tenure and maximum of two-term. Parents Teachers Association (PTA) members and teaching staff should constitute the electorate in every school. The followings are the advantages of democratizing the office over the current system: merit appointment; maximum utilization of resources; performance analysis; accountability; improvement in staff-management relation; restoration of equality among staff; encouraging division of labour; postering interaction among staff; rapid development; elimination of autocracy in leadership; increasing staff confidence and morale; freedom of choice and complete elimination of godfatherism in appointment.
There is no doubt that democratizing the seat in our secondary schools will bring development within a very short period of time and eliminate the unnecessary competition created by self-centered individuals.
Implementation of these minor reforms after due analysis, will change the downward trend of education in Kano. I am optimistic that our state, in the next few years, will be a role model educationally.

Isa Ado Abubakar wrote in from No. 157 Sharada Gindingaru, Kano City and can be reached at isabakar2001@yahoo.co.uk