Education is a very important sector in the development of any country. Unfortunately, in recent times, the Gombe state government has been exhibiting nonchalance towards this pivotal sector. This has led to a decline in students’ performances in the 2023 West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), which also affects the state’s ranking among other states of the federation.
Gombe state government has been paying lip service to the education sector. Instead, the government embarks on the exorbitant construction of the Government House wall and offices, a project that is costing the state billions of naira. Also, the state government still doles out an alarming N17 billion on a wasteful construction of ‘Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park,’ which the state doesn’t need.
There is an urgent need, therefore, to call this government to order, to stop exhibiting an ‘I don’t care attitude’ and take the education sector seriously. The decline in students’ performance in WAEC and other external examinations can be attributed to several factors. One is the gross underfunding of the education sector, with education budget allocation cut drastically year after year since the inception of this administration in 2019. This has led to poor infrastructure, lack of teaching materials, and low morale among teachers and other staff.
Another factor is the poor remuneration and welfare packages for teachers who are the bedrock of any education system. Poorly motivated teachers are likely to perform poorly, with the attendant effect on students’ performance. Gombe state government must realise that education is the key to sustainable growth and development. The government needs to take education seriously by increasing the budget for education and channeling more resources to the sector instead of the N11.4 billion contract for the so-called expansion and rehabilitation of the state’s Regional Water Scheme.
Gombe needs genuine improvement in its education, not the plaster and painting of decayed infrastructure. There is also the need to provide teaching materials, and ensure adequate motivation of teachers. Priority attention to the education sector is critical in achieving sustainable development in any country. Gombe state government needs to stop paying lip service and demonstrate genuine commitment to the education sector.
The state government must prioritise education and ensure that the sector doesn’t suffer misplaced priorities as publicly displayed in the shutting down of the much-needed Gombe University of Science and Technology, Kumo, for the past four years and the reckless award of N3.6 billion contract for already existing streetlights, covering only 20km instead of the 42km signed in the contract agreement.
The government of Gombe state needs to adopt a holistic approach towards education. This means that the government should focus on both basic, technical, vocational, and tertiary education. Technical and vocational education is critical in producing skilled manpower that can drive development in various sectors of the state’s economy.
Furthermore, the government needs to address the issue of teacher training and re-training. The quality of teaching cannot be divorced from the quality of teachers. Therefore, there is a need for continuous training and re-training of teachers to keep them abreast of modern teaching techniques. There should be synergy between government agencies responsible for education in the state. This will ensure that policies are harmonised, resources are pooled together, and duplication of efforts is avoided.
The recent low ranking of Gombe state by WAEC has no doubt revealed that the state government must take urgent steps to revamp the education sector by addressing issues such as underfunding, poor remuneration, inadequate infrastructure, lack of teaching materials and low morale among teachers. The future development of the state depends on it.
The ill-conceived and implemented state of emergency declared by the state government in 2019 and the conversion of the Almajiri school built in Kwami local government area of the state to a failed teacher training centre, that seems to be executed just for the sake of contract awarded as compensation, must not repeat itself if the government really means business to address challenges and bring about positive and meaningful development to the state.
It is indeed nauseating to see a government that purports to conduct comprehensive needs assessment before commencing development projects and policy formulation, persists in executing unnecessary and ineffective programmes and projects. Most of these projects are seen by all rational individuals within the state as imprudent utilisation of valuable resources and misguided priorities with regard to promoting the advancement of the state.
It was observed that even the N1.4 billion the government ‘wasted’ on the installation of a biometric system to check and eliminate payroll fraud, was more of witchhunting the grossly underpaid civil servants, not to improve productivity which should be the priority of any serious government.
Such actions not only result in disappointment among citizens but also have far-reaching repercussions for the overall development of the state. It is binding upon governments to consider all pertinent factors when crafting policies aimed at enhancing societal well-being, which includes accurate needs assessments, effective initiative prioritisation, and efficient allocation of resources towards those objectives. Only then can genuine progress be achieved within the education and other sectors of the state and its economy.
While developing initiatives to address the underfunding and other issues hindering the education sector, it is essential to remember that the promises made during campaigns should not be easily forgotten. Specifically, is the promises made about youth empowerment and employment which are also crucial in ensuring a sustainable future for the next generation.
It is no secret that youths in Gombe state are struggling to find jobs or create one for themselves. With unemployment rates on the rise, social vices including crime and criminality are resurfacing in the state, it is crucial for government to fulfill their promises to create opportunities for the youth. This includes investing in education and skills training, supporting entrepreneurship, and creating a favourable business environment, something different from what is seen on paper.
Investing in education is an important aspect of youth empowerment. By providing quality education and skills training, young people can acquire the knowledge and skills required to be successful in today’s job market. Another important aspect of youth empowerment is supporting entrepreneurship. Starting a business can be challenging for young people, and many lack the necessary skills and resources. The government should help by providing financial assistance, training, and mentorship to young entrepreneurs.
The present administration in Gombe has succeeded in dismantling the Special Marshals initiative that was developed and established under Gombe State Agency for Social Services by former Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo to tackle the menace of youth thuggery (Kalare) and create employment opportunity for the youths.
The initiative which had been praised and described as an effective youth development and empowerment programme was arguably dismantled with thousands of youths rendered jobless, just to get back at Dankwambo. However, when they realised the grievous consequences of the action, the present administration decided to bring back the agency and renamed it Gombe State Security, Traffic and Environmental Corps (GOSTEC) and instead of calling back already trained and employed youths, GOSTEC became a new agency. The governor promised to employ 2000 under GOSTEC, but only 500 youths have been trained and allegedly employed since January 2022.
Leadership comes with great responsibility. Leaders are not only accountable for their own actions but also for the impact they have on society and its people. One of the most significant responsibilities of leaders is to keep their promises and be and sincerely committed to their goals. Failure to fulfill this responsibility can have long-lasting repercussions, especially for the youths.
When leaders break their promises, it erodes the trust that people have in them and a lack of trust can ultimately undermine the stability of society. Moreover, the repercussions of broken promises and lack of sincere commitment can be disproportionately felt by the youth. Young people are often the most vulnerable and marginalised members of society, and they rely on leaders to provide them with support, guidance, and opportunity. When leaders fail to meet their promises, they fail to provide young people with the resources and opportunities they need to grow and develop.
For example, if a leader promises to invest in education, and then fails to do so, it is the youth who suffer the most. They miss out on the education they need to succeed and fulfill their potential. This lack of education can result in a cycle of poverty and inequality that can last for generations.
Danladi writes from Federal Low-cost Housing Estate, Gombe.
