The Kano State government expresses concern over parents selling free school uniforms provided to their children, driven by poverty and undermining efforts to reduce out-of-school children

The Kano State government has voiced its deep concern over the alarming trend of some parents selling school uniforms donated to their children by the state government.

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Alhaji Ali Haruna Makoda, the Kano Commissioner of Education, revealed this disheartening situation during a recent interactive session with journalists.

Commissioner Makoda attributed this action to ignorance and extreme poverty, stating that it constitutes a significant sabotage of the government’s determined efforts to achieve zero out-of-school children in the state.

Reports indicate that in addition to providing free and compulsory education for primary and secondary school students, the Kano State government also supplies free uniforms, books, biros, pencils, and other essential instructional materials to students across the state.

“Can you imagine parents selling the uniform of their children provided by the State Government in order to eat,” Makoda lamented. He further disclosed, “the situation is so bad that some parents in one of the Local Government Areas of the state were caught selling the uniforms of their children provided by the State government.”

According to the Commissioner, these uniforms were part of the over 800,000 uniforms distributed to primary schools throughout the state under the government’s declared State of Emergency in the education sector.

Makoda also expressed concern over the number of parents withdrawing their children from school to engage them in farming activities. He noted that this unfortunate trend has significantly contributed to the high number of out-of-school children prevalent on the streets of the state capital.

The Commissioner assured that the state government is intensifying its efforts to address the growing challenges within the state’s education sector.

He stated that the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf inherited a “failed and decayed education system” and is actively taking substantial steps to improve infrastructure, enhance personnel quality, and expand access to education.

These measures include a significant increase in the budgetary allocation to the education sector, rising from 29.75 percent in the 2024 financial year to 31.5 percent in the 2025 fiscal year.

Makoda recalled the recent procurement and distribution of 120,000 cartons of chalk to public schools across the state as part of the government’s commitment to fostering a conducive and effective learning and teaching environment.

He emphasized that the provision of these materials aligns with the present administration’s dedication to improving teaching and learning in public schools to achieve quality education.

The Commissioner affirmed that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf places the utmost priority on the education sector and will continue to initiate and implement policies aimed at providing quality education in the state.

Makoda highlighted that in October 2023, Governor Yusuf launched the distribution of instructional materials worth billions of Naira to public schools across all 44 Local Government Areas of Kano state.

These materials included textbooks, exercise books, whiteboards, white markers, bags, school sandals, and uniforms, all intended to enhance learning and teaching in public schools.

“So, what the present administration is doing to education is a clear demonstration of its commitment to overhaul the sector and ensure that it remains its first priority through the implementation of sound educational policies,” he concluded.