By Sidi A. Umar
Sokoto
Sokoto state requires additional 9, 000 teachers to meet the global standard of 1: 40 teacher-pupil ratio in its classrooms at the primaryschool level, a government committee set up by Governor Aminu WaziriTambuwal, has found out.
In addition, 11, 863 more primary school classrooms were required to congest the existing ones in order to create a conducive atmosphere for learning.
Presenting an interim report to the Governor in Sokoto, chairman of the technical committee on state of emergency in education in the state, Prof. Risqua Arabu Shehu, said with a total number 1,193,760 pupils enrolled at basic education level for the 2015/2016 academic session, the teacher-pupil/student ratio in Sokoto presently stands at 1:66.
According to the report, even though there is fairly a large percentage of teachers with high qualifications in primary schools, over 60% of them do not process the required certification to teach at basic education level, while about 60% of teachers in junior secondary schools are teaching in urban areas, leaving rural areas under staffed.
It added that there exist more teachers in arts and social sciences than sciences, English and Mathematics.
“Not more than 5% have recommended computer studies and technicaltrade textbooks. Again, only 11% of the students have relevant textbooks inMathematics, while less than 15% of them have mathematical items suchas graph boards, protractors, compasses and geometrical materials (solid figures).
“Out of the 39 technical/commercial trades identified by the Federal Government as contained in the 2013 NPE, only 9 are being offered in the State’s Senior Secondary Schools.”
As a way out of the problem, the committee urged the government to embark on recruitment of more teachers, with more emphasis on female teachers who will serve as role models, especially in rural areas.
This, according to the committee, will encourage girl-child education.
In his remarks, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, said the need to revive the education sector necessitated the setting up of the committee and everything possible would be done to reverse the negative trend.
He said: “We are not shying away from the problem. That is why we are fighting them with a view to bringing together all stakeholders to find a lasting solution.
“Yes we have huge problem in this sector, and we are determined to overcome them within a reasonable time frame.”
