Muhammad Garba
The Emir of Kazaure in Jigawa state, His Highness Dr. Najib Hussaini Adamu has expressed his concern over the dearth of qualified teachers particularly at the basic education level, describing it as a bane of education and social development in the state and Nigeria.
Dr. Husaini Adamu made the remarks when he received the Jigawa Education Partners who paid a courtesy visit to his palace.
The Emir explained that in most of the states of the federation, there is a continuous shortage of qualified teachers as many retired and those who are deceased are not replaced over the years.
He lamented that, despite the significance of education for human social and economic development, the sector is not receiving the deserved attention in the country.
According to him, the shortage or absence of qualified teachers particularly in rural areas has made education less attractive and this has contributed to the high rate of out-of-school children, particularly in northern Nigeria.
“As a result of the absence of qualified teachers in our school, many of our children are graduating from primary, and secondary schools with an empty head, while many of the tertiary institution graduates cannot defend their certificates.
“If care is not be taken, one day we will be producing Doctors who will be killing patients, we will produce Engineers who will design buildings or machines that will become death traps.
“We must come back to our senses, tell ourselves and all authority concerned the truth. If we want this country to progress, we must accord a deserving priority to the education sector with an emphasis on the provision of adequate and qualified teachers in our schools, otherwise, our future is blink,” the Emir declared.
Speaking during the visit, the team leader of the Jigawa Education Partners, Comrade Tasiu Abubakar said they were in the palace to seek the Emir’s advice on how to revitalize the Jigawa education sector.
He also noted that with the support of Partnership to Engaged Reforms and Learning, PERL, funded by Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the group is soliciting public support in promoting girls’ education in the state.
