INVESTIGATIONS into the state of education in Kaduna State have revealed that over 600,000 pupils in primary and secondary school sit on the bare floor while they are being taught.

In a damning indictment of the education regime in the state, Dr Shehu Adamu, the new education, science and technology commissioner, revealed that the situation is a result of 16 years of neglect. He added that the state government has undertaken plans to overcome the neglect the educational sector has suffered. 

According to Dr Adamu, about 80% of the 4,200 public primary schools in Kaduna State are dilapidated, with more than half of their 1.106m pupils sitting on the bare floor. He added that the teaching force, which is under-staffed, consists of over 40% non-qualified teachers and the 349 public secondary schools are not in a better condition.

 Dr Adamu said the state government has taken emergency measures to ensure the rapid delivery of reforms in the educational sector within six weeks. He added that government is aware that the free basic education programme, which commenced as schools resumed in September 2015, led to the high influx of new pupils in public schools. 

To address the infrastructure problems at the primary schools, the commissioner said, the state government has concluded plans to supply primary schools with over 400,000 units of furniture. He added that junior secondary and the senior secondary schools also require about 370,000 units of furniture. 

On the recruitment of teachers in core subjects, Dr Adamu said the state has concluded arrangements to employ about 2,226 teachers in English and the sciences. He added that a complete renovation profile of all schools in the state will be completed within the next six weeks.

 “Contracts for repairs and improvements of schools will be awarded within the emergency period. Already, school repairs are on-going in some selected secondary schools with critical needs such as those with cases of fire and rainstorm damage,” Dr Adamu added.