By Salisu Hamisu Ali
Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s declaration of a state of emergency in the education sector on June 8, 2024, aimed to address the sector’s deep-rooted decay and neglect. However, six months into the initiative, schools like Raya Primary School in Tudun Wada Local Government Area remain in a state of disrepair, with little evidence of progress despite repeated government promises.
Once a pillar of learning for Raya village, the primary school has not undergone any renovation in over five decades. The school’s crumbling infrastructure stands as a glaring testament to the neglect faced by the education sector in Kano State.
Originally built to serve a population of 5,000, the school’s dilapidated structures have collapsed over the years, leaving pupils to attend classes under trees. Makeshift blackboards rest against tree trunks, and the school lacks basic furniture, habitable classrooms, and other essential facilities.
A visit to Raya Primary School paints a grim picture, demolished structures, a solitary classroom with no roof, doors, or desks, and a compound overrun by reptiles and used for open defecation. Without a perimeter fence or gate, the school hardly resembles a learning environment.
Local residents have voiced their frustrations over the school’s condition. “This school has needed roofing since 2002. For 22 years now, nothing has been done. It’s the only school we have here, and we’ve been pleading with the authorities, but no one listens,” said one resident who preferred to remain anonymous.
Another resident lamented their failed attempts to seek assistance. “We’ve made several complaints through the councilor, but we’re not even allowed to meet the local government chairman. It feels like we’ve been completely abandoned,” they said.
Sabi’u Raya, a local of the community, pointed to the broader neglect of the area: “Our town is more populous than Burinburin, the electoral ward we belong to, yet we gain nothing from the government. I completed my NCE here, but now the school is in ruins. The residents have taken it upon themselves to support students with teaching due to the shortage of teachers.”
The challenges in Raya village extend beyond education. Poor roads, inadequate electricity, and limited government presence have compounded the residents’ struggles. Despite Governor Yusuf’s declaration of an education emergency, which included pledges to renovate schools and provide classroom furniture, these commitments have yet to reach Raya.
Efforts to obtain comments from the Chairperson of Tudun Wada Local Government Area proved futile. A close aide claimed ignorance of the school’s plight but assured that the issue would be raised with the chairman. Similarly, Alhassan Ado, the member representing Tudun Wada and Doguwa Federal Constituency, did not respond to inquiries at the time of filing this report.
For the residents of Raya village, the lack of intervention has forced them to rely on self-help measures. Their appeals for immediate action to restore the primary school and address the broader neglect of their community remain unanswered, leaving their children’s education—and their future—in jeopardy.
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