BAUCHI SCHOOLS, OPPOSITION AND THE BLAME GAME

By Abdul Ahmad Burra

I have observed with keen interest how some opposition social media influencers in Bauchi State, have been going around public schools within Bauchi metropolis and other parts, exposing what they termed infrastructural decay in the schools, especially the shortage and poor state of furniture.

Education is a sector that should not be politicised because of its critical role in society. No one who truly loves the progress of society should politicise education.

The decision of these opposition social media guys to embark on this expository tour of public schools would have been a welcome and commendable effort if not for their choice to highlight only the problems and shift the entire blame on the Bauchi State Government.

Interestingly, I was a teacher in one of the schools they visited and snapped. And as a teacher, I know the root causes of many of the problems in our public schools, especially in the provision and maintenance of furniture and other facilities. Government provides furniture and other infrastructure from time to time, but the biggest challenge lies in our culture of destruction and poor maintenance of government property. Many people do not regard government property as their own; they either destroy it or show little concern when it is being damaged. In many communities, public schools are turned into event centres, hangouts, or town halls. That is one of the reasons why most school desks and chairs do not last long, even though they are provided annually.

Teachers, parents, students, and community members often remain indifferent while school facilities are being vandalised. Another major issue is the lack of supervision by those employed to safeguard these facilities. We hardly see such destruction in private schools because of strict supervision by their owners. If a similar system of accountability were enforced in public schools, we would not be seeing the kinds of pictures the opposition is running helter-skelter to capture.

The fact remains that Governor Bala Mohammed has invested heavily in education. From infrastructure to human resources, from teaching materials to student enrollment, the Governor’s performance is commendable. Schools are being built, rehabilitated, and equipped. For the first time since the Governor Ahmadu Muazu era, Bauchi State is witnessing the establishment of mega-schools in Bauchi, Misau, Azare, and elsewhere, comparable to what we see in Abuja or Maiduguri. However, considering the vastness and complexity of education, no government can provide everything within just eight years. Problems in the education sector are multidimensional. Investment in education is a continuous process. There is no state in Nigeria without dilapidated schools and infrastructural problems similar to those being highlighted in Bauchi.

Therefore, we should not politicise issues in education but instead assess the problems realistically and proffer practical solutions. Some pictures shared by the opposition are indeed disturbing to any lover of education and societal development. One wonders how an education-loving state like Bauchi can fail to maintain and protect the infrastructure provided by government. Shifting all the blame to the present administration is counterproductive because the real problem lies elsewhere. What is required is a change in attitude, from government to community, from parents to students, and from teachers to school management. We must protect all schools at all costs and cultivate a culture of maintenance. All broken chairs, desks, and leaking roofs should be fixed without delay.

Community leaders must be vigilant in safeguarding schools within their domains. Every school should instill the culture of maintenance among staff and students. The unauthorised use of public schools as event centres or hangouts must be stopped. Students should be trained on the proper handling and care of school facilities. Maintenance or furniture prefects should be appointed in schools to monitor facilities and report any damage promptly.

Government should declare a state of emergency on the maintenance of school infrastructure. I also suggest the establishment of an agency dedicated to maintaining school facilities. Traditional rulers should be tasked with monitoring schools within their domains. With the creation of new emirates, the government should issue marching orders to all incoming emirs to prioritise the protection of infrastructure in schools under their care. This should be their first assignment.

Education is everybody’s business. Governor Bala Mohammed has paid his dues in the education sector. Let us all join hands to sustain his good legacies in education.