The Commissioner for Education and Technology in Zamfara State, Malam Wadatau Madawaki, expressed his dissatisfaction with the state of education in the state, stating that it is highly embarrassing and requires strategic measures to revive the sector.
Addressing the Ministry’s staff on his assumption of office on Friday, the Commissioner lamented that the damage done to the education sector in the State is worrisome and challenging.
Madawaki further explained that past administrations in the State failed to give proper attention to the sector, resulting in a lack of educational policy direction and the eventual collapse of the education system.
The Commissioner expressed concern that all three levels of education – Basic, Secondary, and Tertiary – have been seriously neglected.
“All aspects of the sub-sector require urgent intervention, including infrastructure provision, instructional materials, quality and quantity of teaching staff, training and retraining of teaching and administrative staff, quality assurance, staff motivation, curricular and extracurricular activities, among others,” he stated.
In addition, the Commissioner highlighted that the state of secondary education is even more deplorable than the basic education system.
“This component has been completely neglected, and in addition to the challenges it faces, the beneficiaries of this level are also facing difficulties in areas such as ethics, morals, social issues, spirituality, and economics,” he explained.
The Commissioner also pointed out the dire state of the tertiary education sub-sector, with empty laboratories, libraries, workshops, inadequate infrastructure, equipment, and learning materials. He emphasized that these institutions no longer meet the criteria of being learning centers but have instead become glorified secondary schools.
“The institutions have become politicized to the extent that they have deviated from their traditional roles as academic institutions and have become platforms for pursuing selfish political gains,” he added.
“It is important to note that education in the State has lacked a defined direction for a significant period of time,” he further emphasized.
“We are committed to rescuing the State from the educational backwardness that has hindered its growth and development,” he concluded.