By Frank Ulom

KATSINA (CONVERSEER) – MonitNG, a civic technology platform, has exposed the deplorable state of Junior Secondary School in Bazanga, Danja Local Government Area of Katsina State, describing it as a “devastating reflection of failed governance and misplaced priorities”.

The group revealed that the entire local government area has been completely neglected, with no functional school or primary healthcare facility available to serve residents. During a visit to the school, MonitNG documented scenes of young boys and girls sitting on bare floors in dilapidated classrooms with cracked walls, broken windows and leaking roofs.

“There was not a single desk, chair or basic learning material available,” the group said. “The learning environment is so harsh and unsuitable that many children have stopped attending school altogether. This situation reflects a total failure of governance and a devastating disregard for the future of these students.”

Billions Allocated, Little to Show

Despite the state of disrepair, billions of naira have been allocated to education in recent years. In the 2024 Katsina State budget, the Ministry of Water Resources received the highest allocation at ₦67.16 billion (20.35% of the ₦454.3 billion total), while education was allocated ₦66.4 billion. However, water scarcity persists and public schools remain abandoned, pointing to what MonitNG described as “a clear case of misplaced priorities”.

The 2025 budget follows a similar trend. Governor Dikko Umaru Radda presented a ₦682.24 billion proposal — a 40 percent increase from the previous year — with education receiving the largest share of ₦95.99 billion (14 percent). Yet, schools like Bazanga remain in ruins, with no furniture, learning materials or safe classrooms.

Unrealised Interventions

Katsina State has also benefited from multiple interventions from the federal government, international partners, and donor agencies aimed at improving school infrastructure and access to quality education. However, MonitNG observed that these initiatives have not translated into tangible improvements on the ground, especially in rural communities like Danja.

“This is a call to urgent action,” MonitNG stated. “The Katsina State Government must prioritise basic education infrastructure and ensure that budgeted funds and donor support are utilised transparently and effectively.”

Call for Urgent Action

The group urged Governor Dikko Umaru Radda to address the dire state of public schools and uphold the rights of children to quality education.

“Every child deserves a safe, functional, and dignified learning environment — one that inspires them to stay in school and dream of a better future,” MonitNG said. “Anything less is a betrayal of their right to education and a failure of leadership.”

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