SUBEB Reaffirms Partnership with UNICEF to Strengthen WASH in Basic Education Schools.

By JB Danlami

The Kano State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has reaffirmed its commitment to sustained collaboration with UNICEF to strengthen the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme in Basic Education schools across the state.

SUBEB made this known during a Media and Stakeholders Dialogue on WASH, organised by UNICEF at Tahir Guests Palace, Kano.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Chairman of SUBEB, Malam Yusuf Kabir, who was represented by the Board Secretary, Hajiya Amina Umar, disclosed that Kano State has a total of 8,782 basic schools, comprising 7,331 Pre-Primary and Primary schools and 1,451 Junior Secondary Schools (JSS).

According to her, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, SUBEB has so far succeeded in providing WASH facilities in 5,884 schools across the state. She explained that 5,199 schools currently have access to basic water and sanitation only, while 4,041 schools have basic water and hygiene facilities.

Similarly, 3,803 schools have sanitation and hygiene services without adequate water supply.

Hajiya Amina Umar further stated that 5,584 schools rely solely on basic water sources without sanitation or hygiene facilities, 2,503 schools have only sanitation facilities, while 5,199 schools have hygiene facilities without access to water or sanitation.

She attributed the existing challenges to the large number of schools, inadequate funding due to competing demands, and the absence of a comprehensive WASH policy at the basic education level, noting that plans are underway to constitute a Technical Working Group (TWG) on WASH in Schools.

The Board Secretary emphasized that SUBEB makes annual budgetary provisions for WASH through its Basic Education Budget and Matching Grant Action Plans. She added that Monitoring Officers from the LGEAs, Zonal Offices and SUBEB Headquarters conduct quarterly monitoring and reporting on WASH facilities to ensure accountability and effective implementation.

In his remarks, the Chief of UNICEF Field Office Kano, Mr. Rahama Rihood Mohammed Farah, described the WASH situation in schools and health facilities as alarming, particularly in the North-West region.

He cited the 2021 WASHNORM II survey, which shows that only 11 percent of schools nationwide have access to basic water, sanitation and hygiene services, while just 6 percent of health facilities meet basic WASH standards.

Mr. Farah noted that although Jigawa State has made progress toward Open Defecation-Free (ODF) status, handwashing functionality remains low, exposing millions of children to preventable diseases such as diarrhoea and cholera.

He disclosed that UNICEF, with funding support of £19 million from the UK Government under the Climate Resilient for Basic Infrastructure (CRIBS) Programme, supported the construction and inauguration of 84 climate-resilient schools and health facilities in Kano and Jigawa States.

He added that the programme has been expanded to Bauchi, Enugu, Gombe, Kaduna and Katsina States following its success.

The UNICEF Chief urged the media to intensify advocacy, monitor budgetary allocations, and hold governments accountable for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 and 6, stressing that access to functional WASH facilities is fundamental to children’s health, dignity and education.

Both SUBEB and UNICEF reaffirmed their commitment to sustained collaboration with governments, development partners, communities and the media to achieve improved and sustainable WASH services in schools and health facilities.