Government Day Secondary School, Maidabino in Dan Musa Local Government Area of Katsina State is in a terrible state.

More than 1,000 students from JSS1 to SS3 sit on stones, broken blocks, or the bare ground because there are no desks or chairs. Most classrooms have no roofs, leaving students exposed to rain, sun, and harsh weather.

The school has only one teacher, a volunteer farmer named Malam Ibrahim Salisu Maidabino, who is not on government payroll. He teaches multiple classes and subjects alone. Soldiers from a nearby military base sometimes help maintain order and even assist with teaching due to the severe shortage of staff.

Despite billions of naira budgeted for education in Katsina State in recent years, the school remains neglected. Governor Dikko Umaru Radda’s administration has allocated significant funds to the sector, yet basic facilities like roofs, furniture, water, and sanitation are missing at Maidabino.

Parents still send their children to the school mainly because of the military presence, which provides some sense of security against bandit attacks. However, learning conditions are extremely poor, with no laboratories, library, or electricity.

The situation highlights the gap between government promises and reality on the ground. Residents and observers are calling for urgent intervention to rehabilitate the school and provide qualified teachers. Until then, the children of Maidabino continue their struggle for education under very difficult circumstances.

Photo credit: Zagazola Makoma