Meet Bauchi Community where parents aid children’s school absenteeism during farming season

 

By Mohammed Kaka 

Despite the effort of the government in ensuring school enrollment and retention, parents of Abba Yayawo Primary school children in Misau local government area of Bauchi state are not helping matters, as checks by our correspondent revealed that during farming season, pupils abandoned classes to be with their parents at farm.

Speaking in his office, the headmaster of the primary school, Usman Alliyu who usually treks over seven kilometers to the school said everything has been put in place by the Bauchi state government to provide conducive learning atmosphere for the school pupils.

He however, lamented that parents don’t send their wards to the school once farming activities commences up to its conclusion (harvest period).

A visit to the primary school on Tuesday showed that no single pupil came to the school, leaving only the headmaster and two other staff sitting idle.

“As you can see, the school is empty with no single pupil, the government has not declared any public holiday and the school is not on vacation but you know it is farming season now and the children are not coming”, Usman Aliyu said.

The headmaster, who lamented that the trend is seriously affecting educational development and growth in the community, noted that if the children are not educated, the community will remain backward.

“We’ve been trying our best by contacting the parents and the community leaders to ensure that the children come to school, even yesterday we were supposed to have School Based Management Committee (SBMC) meeting on how to address the issue but the rain prevented us but we will definitely meet”, Aliyu assured.

“Honestly speaking, the government has provided classrooms and instructional materials just like you are seeing, but it’s unfortunate that the parents are not sending the children to come and learn in the facility, that’s what is giving us concern”, he said.

The Headmaster who is running the school alongside two staff and two volunteer workers, pleaded with the parents to allow the children to come to school and not until the farming season is over.

“As it is, the children of Abba Yayayo come to school for only one term in a year, that’s second term when the rainy season and the harvest is over, once farming season sets in, they don’t come to school, once it is harvest period, you won’t see them, they only come to school at second term when there is no farming or harvesting activities”, Aliyu further revealed.

According to him, the sad development has created a huge gap in the educational development of the affected Community in the state.

Aliyu, who commended Governor Bala Mohammed of the state for revamping the education sector and other sectors of the economy for the betterment of the masses, expressed gratitude that the state government has implemented the promotion of teachers which has been on hold in the past.

“He is doing it step-by-step and since I was employed into the state civil service, this is first of its kind in terms of promotions and welfare of workers, we are really appreciative to the Governor”, he said.

Aliyu, who usually treks about eight kilometers to work, pleaded with the government to help assist people like him with mobility to assuage their movements for better service delivery.