Schools in Kano State are grappling with an acute shortage of teaching staff, as headteachers raise alarms over the impact on education quality.
Mr. Haladu Tanko, Headteacher of Ungogo Special Primary School in Ungogo Local Government Area, revealed that the school has only 15 teachers for a staggering 2,943 pupils. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Tanko lamented that the imbalance has severely hampered effective teaching and learning.
“The situation is becoming unbearable for both teachers and pupils. The current number of teachers is insufficient to handle the large student population, and it is negatively impacting academic performance,” he said. Tanko called on the state government and relevant authorities to urgently address the staffing gap to improve learning outcomes.
The school’s head boy, Nura Yusuf, and head girl, Jamila Suleiman, echoed Tanko’s concerns, urging authorities to prioritize teacher recruitment.
Similar challenges were reported by other schools in the state. Umar Aliyu, Headmaster of Yelwa Primary School in Dala Local Government Area, disclosed that the school has only 31 teachers for 1,164 pupils. Aliyu further appealed for better infrastructure, including additional toilets, teacher training, and enhanced security to combat theft and vandalism.
At Sabon Layi Primary School, Headmaster Auwal Abubakar reported having just 39 teachers for 1,764 pupils, while Malam Habibu Sani, Headteacher of Hotoro South Special Primary School, revealed that 30 teachers are responsible for 1,432 pupils.
“We need more qualified teachers to handle the large number of pupils,” Sani stressed.
The dire teacher-to-pupil ratios in Kano’s primary schools highlight an urgent need for government intervention to address the educational challenges facing the state.
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