AoPSHON Kano Fires Back: “What Educational Progress has the Minister Brought to the North?”

By JB Danlami

The Chairman of the Association of Primary School Head Teachers of Nigeria (AoPSHON), Kano State Chapter, Comrade Malam Abdussalam, has issued a strong response to the comment made by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad who said she does not support the use of mother tongue as a medium of instruction.

The Minister had also criticized Kano State, claiming it relies too heavily on the Hausa language in teaching.

In his reaction, Comrade Abdussalam described the Minister’s statement as unfounded, misleading, and contrary to global research and established educational best practices.

“The Minister passed judgment on Kano and the entire North without proper understanding.

Our question is simple: what educational advancement has she brought to the North to warrant such harsh criticism? What exactly has she contributed to improving learning outcomes in our region?”, he said

He emphasized that global studies, along with UNESCO guidelines and national policy frameworks, all affirm that mother-tongue education at the foundational level enhances comprehension, builds literacy, reduces dropout rates, and improves overall learning outcomes.

The AoPSHON Chairman highlighted that Kano State Government has made significant investments to strengthen foundational learning through initiatives such as teacher recruitment, construction and rehabilitation classrooms Capacity building for Teachers and reforms that support both Hausa and English language development.

“Instead of acknowledging Kano’s efforts in strengthening foundational literacy and supporting classroom delivery, the Minister chose to attack a system the world has already accepted and endorsed. This is unfair and counterproductive,” he noted.

Comrade Abdussalam insisted that Hausa language is not the problem; rather, the persistent lack of federal support and inadequate investment in northern education over the years have contributed to poor learning outcomes in some states.

He added that abandoning the mother tongue at the early learning stage is equivalent to “abandoning the child in darkness,” noting that children learn best in the language they understand.

“The North does not need divisive statements. What we need is commitment, resources, and leadership that understands our realities,” he said.

The AoPSHON Chairman called on the Minister to retract her comments and redirect her focus toward policies and actions that will bring real improvements to the education sector, especially in northern Nigeria as this contained in a Press statement signed by the State Secretary AoPSHON Comrade Bilkisu T Abdulkadir