The League of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Kano State has congratulated students, teachers, parents, and education stakeholders on the state’s outstanding performance in the 2025 NECO Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).
Kano emerged as the best-performing state nationwide, with 68,159 candidates — 5.02% of the national total — securing five credits or more, including English and Mathematics.
According to the group, the feat reflects not only the brilliance and resilience of Kano’s youth but also the “strategic vision and sustained investment of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, whose education-first agenda has revitalized public schools through increased budgetary allocation, infrastructure upgrades, teacher recruitment, and targeted support for vulnerable groups.”
Warning on structural challenges
While celebrating the milestone, the CSOs stressed that deep-rooted issues in primary education must not be ignored.
“Yet, as we celebrate this milestone, we must confront the persistent structural challenges, particularly in primary education, that threaten the sustainability of these gains,” the group said.
“With overcrowded classrooms, inadequate sanitation, and a severe shortage of qualified teachers still plaguing foundational learning, the government must deepen its reforms to ensure that every child in Kano receives quality education from the earliest stages, laying the groundwork for lifelong success and inclusive development.”
Calls for urgent reforms
The League highlighted findings from the 2024 UBEC report, which revealed a Pupil-Teacher Ratio of 1:65, a Pupil-Classroom Ratio of 1:78, and a Pupil-Toilet Ratio of 1:120 in Kano’s public primary schools — far below national and global standards.
They warned that unless addressed, these gaps would undermine Kano’s long-term education gains, especially for young learners and girls.
The coalition issued a set of six strategic recommendations, including the recruitment of 25,000 qualified teachers, construction of gender-sensitive sanitation facilities, introduction of performance-based teacher incentives, and digitization of education monitoring systems.
Commitment to partnership
The group urged the Kano State Government to consolidate its success by aligning reforms with the National Policy on Education, the Child Rights Act, and international conventions such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
“These recommendations are not aspirational; they are urgent, actionable, and essential,” the CSOs stated. “We stand ready to support this transformation through technical assistance, community mobilization, and independent monitoring.”
The statement was endorsed by 22 organizations, including Wuro Development Concerns (WDCN), Centre for Human Rights and Social Advancement (CEFSAN), African Centre for Innovative Research and Development (Afri-CIRD), and the Kano Youth Promotion Council.
