Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

The Kano State Government has begun reviewing its “Education Law 1964” as part of effort to overhaul education sector in the state.

KANO FOCUS reports that the FCDO PLANE programme in collaboration with Kano State Government and Kano State Accountability Forum on Education (K-SAFE) organised a three day workshop to achieve this at Hotel Seventeen, Kaduna.

Yushau Hamza, Chairman House Committee on Education Sulaiman Mukhtar Madobi and member representing Gwarzo

The workshop brought together members of Kano state House of Assembly, seasoned educationists, academics, staff of ministries of education and justice as well as civil society organisations to contribute to the review.

Dr Yusuf Ibrahim Kofar Mata, a commissioner of higher education said the review of the state’s education law which was enacted in 1964 were long overdue.

He said that the strategic move was aimed at enhancing the quality of education, fostering critical thinking, and equipping students with the necessary skills to thrive in a dynamic world.

Cross Section of Diginatries at the event

The commissioner emphasised the importance of a robust educational law, while highlighting that the current law required updates to meet contemporary educational demands and  aspirations of the state.

“The world is changing rapidly and our education system must keep pace with the changes.

“We need education law that not only imparts knowledge but also develops the critical thinking and problem-solving skills of our young learners.

“This review will involve key stakeholders, including educators, academics, civil society organisations, and experts, to ensure a holistic approach to development,” he said.

A Cross section of participants

Kofar Mata said that the review process would encompass various aspects of the education, including basic, post basic and tertiary.

He said it would also integrate modern technology and innovative practices, to create an engaging and effective learning environment for students.

He reaffirmed Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s and the Ministry’s commitment to prioritising education as the cornerstone of Kano’s development agenda.

In his remarks the chairman House Committee on Education and member representing Madobi constituency in the State House of Assembly Sulaiman Mukhtar Madobi called on the participants to look into the deficiency of English language among students of Arabic Secondary Schools.

Sulaiman Mukhtar Madobi

The legislator urged stakeholders to actively participate in the review process, noting that public hearing would be organised by the State Assembly to gather input and recommendations from diverse groups.

He said this would ensure that the revised law reflects the needs and aspirations of the Nigerian society.

“The state Assembly remains committed to improving the quality of education at all levels, and believes that this education review is a critical step towards achieving that goal.

A Cross section of the participants

He, therefore, expressed gratitude to stakeholders for their dedication and called for continued collaboration.

Also speaking, representative of commissioner of education, Director Planning, Research and Statistics in the state ministry of education Malam Munzali Mustapha announced that several attempts to review the law by previous administration failed due to non engagement of legal practitioners in the process.

Malam Munzali Mustapha

In his submission the representative of Kano State Accountability Forum on Education (K-SAFE) Dr Abdussalam Kani pledged the commitment and contribution of the Forum towards a successful review of the law.

Dr Abdussalam Kani

The lead Consultant Prof. Usman Muhammad Zunnurain said sixty years is a very long period in the life of any given legislation that will necessitate a review.

He observed that, “a lot of developments took place within this period under review that require the coverage of the legal framework regulating the sector.

Prof. Usman Muhammad Zunnurain

“Key among these developments/issues include, establishment of new agencies; evolution of some new societal norms; yearning for all inclusive education to cover issues of indigence, gender, disability and other forms of vulnerabilities; need for security of schools in the face of challenging insurgency and banditry; aligning the law with the National and International standards and best practices; provision of functional education catering for skills acquisitions for self-reliance; taming the contemporary challenges of social media and other ICTs, etc.”

Earlier, the PLANE programme facilitator Hajiya Umma Rakana said “the purpose of the law review workshop is to critically examine the law, identify its weakness, inadequacies and deficiencies in achieving effective regulations of the issues/challenges  by the contemporary development.

Hajiya Umma Rakana

“At the end, the workshop will suggest areas of amendment to align the law with the emerging issues/challenges.”

Participants in the group picture

Highlights of the event includes goodwill messages from the Solicitor General and permanent secretary ministry of justice Barrister Mustapha and member representing Gwarzo Constituency Yunusa Haruna Kayyu.