The Kano State government has vowed to take punitive measures against parents that allow pupils to roam the streets during school hours.The state’s Ministry of Education insisted also that henceforth, lateness and absenteeism would no longer be tolerated, particularly for children in public primary and secondary schools.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement with parents and women on the significance of girl child education in Kano, the Commissioner for Education, Umar Doguwa, asked parents to complement government’s investment on education by ensuring children are punctual in school.

The commissioner said despite the abysmal state of infrastructure and human capacity inherited from the previous government, the current administration has revamped the sector within eight months.

Doguwa lamented that the government is demoralised by the dwindling response of parents who refuse to enrol their children. He said the government will be forced to invite parents whose children keep resuming late to schools and caution them. He added that the government will not hesitate to sanction any child or parent consistently unresponsive.

He said: “The state government has made education free, just as it has provided means of transportation for children to get to school; hence the need for parents to complement the government’s effort by sending their wards to school.

“When we came on board, we met the education sector in a pathetic situation. We have 5.3 million students in the state. We met about 4.5 million students sitting on the floor, without chairs and without teaching materials.

“The previous administration shut down 28 boarding schools. We had over 32,000 students in those schools. After the closure, we have about 9,000 students. Most of them are now in day schools.

“So, if the government, under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, allocated 29.7 per cent of the budget to education, promised to pay salary on time, repaired about 70 high capacity vehicles to transport the children to school, and we monitor the conduct of the teachers…what about children who don’t go to school and the parents whose role it is to send their wards to school?

“The component that is remaining now is the student aspect, of which we decided to reach out to parents, to make them know the importance of education and their commitment to allow their children to be in school, in good time. ”

On her part, the Secretary, High Level Women Association (HILWA), Ladidi Fagge, said closure of the boarding schools was the genesis of girls dropping out, as they now engage in street hawking and other activities.

She blamed parents for overwhelming their children with domestic and commercial activities during periods when the children ought to join their mates in the classroom.

Fagge solicited the support of parents, especially women, to complement the government’s efforts and ensure their children go to school and attain their full potential in life.