Findings from the 2024/2025 Annual School Census (ASC), released in December 2025, reveal that in public pre-primary and primary schools, a single teacher is responsible for as many as 105 pupils—far above both international and national education benchmarks.
For comparison, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recommends a pupil-to-teacher ratio of 25:1 at the primary level, while Nigeria’s National Policy on Education sets limits of 1:25 for pre-primary, 1:35 for primary, and 1:40 for secondary education.
In Kano, however, the situation paints a far more stretched reality: junior secondary schools recorded a ratio of 50 students per teacher, while senior secondary schools stood at 37:1.
Millions of Learners, Limited Capacity
The census highlights the scale of pressure facing the system, with a total of 5,690,634 learners enrolled in public schools across the state.
This includes 683,773 pupils in pre-primary schools, 4,034,744 in primary schools, 509,314 in junior secondary, and 412,518 in senior secondary schools. Others are spread across science and technical institutions as well as adult learning centres.
The report noted that while enrolment growth reflects increased access to education, it has also placed “enormous pressure” on already limited teachers, classrooms, and basic learning facilities.
Overall, Kano’s public education system is supported by 45,007 teachers across all levels, though most are concentrated in pre-primary and primary schools—still insufficient to meet demand.
Overcrowded Classrooms, Strained Facilities
Beyond staffing gaps, infrastructure deficits are also acute.
The census shows an average of 145 pupils sharing a single classroom in pre-primary and primary schools. In junior secondary schools, the ratio stands at 78 pupils per classroom, while senior secondary schools record 69:1.
Sanitation conditions are equally overstretched. One toilet reportedly serves about 343 pupils in pre-primary and primary schools, raising concerns about hygiene and student welfare. The situation is similarly strained in secondary schools, with ratios of 122:1 in junior and 73:1 in senior levels.
The census covered 7,331 public pre-primary and primary schools, 1,451 junior secondary schools, 800 senior secondary schools, 49 science and technical institutions, and 63 adult education centres across the state.
Gains in Enrolment, Especially for Girls
Despite the challenges, the report also points to progress in access to education, particularly in female participation.
Girls now account for 52% of enrolment in pre-primary and primary schools, 56% in junior secondary schools, and 54% in senior secondary schools—signalling a steady shift in gender inclusion.
At the primary level alone, over two million girls are enrolled out of more than four million pupils, reflecting what the report describes as growing parity in school attendance.
Government Response and Ongoing Interventions
The Kano State Government acknowledged the strain on the education system but attributed the situation to years of neglect before the current administration declared a state of emergency in education in 2023.
Commissioner for Education, Ali Haruna Makoda, said the government has since ramped up investment in the sector, describing education as receiving “the lion’s share” of the state budget—29.75% in 2024, 31.5% in 2025, and 30% in 2026.
He stated that contracts worth over N24 billion have been awarded for the construction of 49 new schools and the renovation of 300 others across all 484 wards of the state.
“Wherever you step in, you will definitely see our project,” he said, adding that more than 2,500 classrooms have already been renovated and over 18,000 teachers recruited to address shortages.
Makoda also noted that the government’s new recruitment policy prioritises posting teachers to their local communities, aimed at improving retention and ensuring rural schools are not left behind.
A System at a Critical Point
While officials point to ongoing reforms, the census underscores a system still under significant strain—where rising enrolment has outpaced infrastructure development and teacher recruitment.
For now, Kano’s classrooms remain overcrowded, its facilities stretched thin, and its teachers burdened with some of the highest pupil ratios in the country.