Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has ordered a ban on the use of students for “hard labour” in schools after a disturbing incident where pupils were seen digging a ground for a toilet pipeline at the School for Arabic Studies in Kano.
In a statement released on Sunday, Governor Yusuf emphasized that schools are places for education and moral guidance, not for manual labour. His remarks followed an impromptu visit to the school, where he found students engaged in the construction task.
The headmaster, upon questioning, claimed the work was assigned to students after school hours. However, the governor did not take kindly to the practice, instructing its immediate cessation. He also assured the school management that his administration would address the dilapidated state of the school buildings, including the attached mosque, and promised to renovate them.
Furthermore, Governor Yusuf announced that any school construction projects must be submitted to the education ministry or his office for approval before execution.
The governor also carried out an inspection of the ongoing reconstruction projects at the Kano Printing Press, which had been damaged during the #EndBadGovernance protests. He warned contractors to ensure the work met government standards, expressing dissatisfaction with some structures that did not adhere to the required specifications.
The directive has sparked discussions about the role of schools and the safety of students in Kano State, with many applauding the governor’s swift response to the inappropriate use of children in manual labour.
