Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has officially announced a state of emergency in the education sector, citing a drastic decline in the state’s educational standards. In a broadcast that reached the entire state on Tuesday, the governor expressed deep concern over the prolonged neglect experienced by the education sector, spanning from primary to tertiary institutions.
Governor Lawal underscored that the declaration of a state of emergency in education aligns with his electoral commitments to the people of Zamfara. He emphasized the state government’s dedication to revamping the virtually collapsed education sector.
Aligned with his campaign manifesto, the governor detailed ongoing initiatives, including the construction and renovation of 245 schools spread across the 14 local government areas of the state. As part of this effort, 9,542 two-seater desks have been provided for pupils and students, and the newly constructed and renovated schools have been equipped with 619 tables and 926 chairs for teachers.
Governor Lawal outlined comprehensive measures, such as subject-specific training and retraining for all teachers and education managers. Additionally, the government has taken steps to suspend the licenses of private education providers, ensuring that they meet the required standards for delivering quality education.
In a bid to support Zamfara State indigenes, the government has approved the sponsorship of 50% of students admitted into the Federal Government Girls College Gusau for the 2023-2024 academic sessions.
The governor also highlighted the state’s commitment to examination fees, stating that the government has covered the National Examination Council (NECO) fees for all public school candidates who participated in the 2023 exams. Furthermore, certificates for candidates who took the 2019 NECO examinations have been collected and distributed.
Governor Lawal assured that NECO exam results from 2020, 2021, and 2022, previously withheld due to non-payment by the previous administration, will be released to students before the end of the month. He emphasized the government’s determination to reverse the trend of underperformance, expressing optimism that Zamfara will flourish across all sectors, marking the beginning of a transformative rescue mission.