Public Primary and Secondary Schools in Taraba have recorded a surge in enrollment of pupils.

 Public Primary and Secondary Schools in Taraba have recorded a surge in enrollment of pupils.

By Ahmed Usman Jalingo

On assumption of office, Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas of Taraba State declared a "State of Emergency '' in the Education sector in the state. The rationale behind the declaration was to enable the governor to give much emphasis on the sector and have a free hand to formulate and implement needed programs and policies in revamping the education system in the state among others.

Three weeks into his administration, the governor paid unscheduled visits to some primary and secondary schools in Jalingo, the state capital. Schools visited include Government Science Secondary School, Government Comprehensive Secondary School, and Nyamusala Primary School.

At the Government Comprehensive Secondary School Jalingo, the governor was shocked by the deplorable nature of the school. All the classes in the school lacked needed facilities for conducive teaching and learning, and student hostels were uninhabitable, same applied to the school's clinic and kitchen. In short, the governor was confronted with the alarming deterioration of the school's infrastructure and facilities, which prompted him to take swift and decisive action. 

Fueled by unwavering determination and a deep commitment to educational excellence, the governor ordered the immediate closure of the school and the commencement of the renovation work.

Governor Agbu Kefas was also at the Taraba State College of Nursing and Midwifery Jalingo and the Taraba State University Jalingo where he ordered the slashing of tuition fees for all the tertiary institutions in the state by 50%. A decision welcomed by all, especially students and parents.

The governor took his visit to the southern part of the state. He visited Ebenezer Primary School Wukari in Wukari local government area where he did his elementary studies. At the school, governor Kefas announced the introduction of free education at both primary and secondary schools.

The Governor had on 2nd July 2023, written to the Taraba State House of Assembly, seeking approval to enable the state government access loan facility of two hundred and six billion, seven hundred and seventy-six million naira (N206,776,000,000) only, from four commercial banks. Among the said amount, fifty billion Naira was earmarked for the education sector.

Governor Kefas has no reason to declare a state of emergency on education and also to introduce free education in the state. Taraba was rated as the second state with the highest number of out-of-school children in Nigeria. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education Idris Goje confirmed this recently, during a sensitisation exercise on the importance of free education in the state.

However, the status has changed now as both primary and secondary schools were overwhelmed with pupils and students.

Among the decisions taken under the free education policy are; non-payment of any amount, introduction of running costs to schools, provision of free uniforms, books, sandals, and other learning materials. 

The governor first met with all primary school headteachers and all secondary school principals. The governor also threatened to sanction any father who refused to enroll his child. 

Recently, public primary schools have seen a sharp increase in the enrollment rate  For instance, Takum local government area recorded an increase of 18,120 pupils, Zing local government 9,356 pupils, Ibbi local government 5,000 pupils, Donga local government 9,302 pupils and Kurmi local government 3,302 pupils.

A Police Inspector, Musa Bala Yerima was reported saying he has relocated his family with seven children from Abuja to Jalingo to enroll his children in schools under Governor Agbu Kefas’s free education policy

"I brought my family back to Jalingo because the Governor said schools will be free under his administration. I am from Karim Lamido Local Government, living in Abuja but for this police job my salary is very small and I can't send all my seven children to school in Abuja. We can't even feed well in Abuja and it's only the two eldest that are going to school before now." he explained

In a separate interview in Jalingo, the chairperson of the Association of Primary School Headteachers of Nigeria AOPSHON in Taraba State Rifkatu A Istifanus, and State Secretary of Forum of Local Education Secretaries Malam Yahaya Adamu both saluted the courage of Dr. Agbu Kefas in revamping education sector in the state.

Our reporter further observed that at the commencement of the 2023/2024 academic session, which is the initial session for the start of free education, students are seen trooping to classes in casual dresses in compliance with the directives of the Ministry of Education before the distribution of free uniforms by the state government.

It is worth noting that the introduction of free education at both primary and secondary schools in Taraba State by Governor Agbu Kefas met with a mountain of challenges. They include inadequate classrooms, dilapidated structures, and lack of fencing in almost all the schools leading to encroachment and trespass, and inadequate pupils/teachers' tables and chairs.

Others are; inadequate toilet facilities for teachers/pupils, inefficient supply of water in schools, and lack of pupils' playgrounds and sporting equipment.

Almost all schools are facing inadequate instructional materials such as textbooks, schemes of work, lesson notes, daily attendance registers, visitor books, chalk/pens, and CA. dossiers among others, absence of ICT centers and Libraries.

On personnel, there are inadequate teachers, nannies, and securities in most schools, no implementation of promotions, yearly increment/prompt payment of teacher's salaries, lack of implementation of teacher's salaries structures for professional teachers, payment of salaries arrears among others.