Parents, teachers decry dilapidated classrooms in FCT school

Parents and teachers of the Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary School in Gaube community, Kuje Area Council of the FCT, have expressed concern over the deplorable state of classrooms and shortage of teachers in the school.
Some parents who spoke with Abuja Metro during a visit to the community on Saturday said four blocks of three classrooms each were in a dilapidated condition.
They said the classroom ceilings had caved in, while some classrooms lacked windows, a situation they said has continued to affect learning over the years.
The youth leader of the community, Mr Benjamin Yakubu, who conducted our reporter around the school, said the condition of the classrooms had made learning unconducive for both pupils and teachers.
According to him, pupils often find it difficult to study comfortably whenever it rains because leaking roofs have damaged the classroom ceilings.
“Whenever it rains, pupils and teachers find it difficult to remain inside the classrooms because some of the windows have been pulled out while the roofs are leaking,” he said.
Yakubu added that pupils are sometimes sent home whenever rain appears imminent because of the poor condition of the classrooms, while teachers are left stranded due to the lack of a conducive staff space.
A class teacher, who is also an indigene of the community and preferred anonymity, also lamented the condition of the classrooms, saying both teachers and pupils are affected whenever it rains.
“I am telling you, whenever it rains, there is no place for teachers to stay. Lessons for the day are usually disrupted because the classrooms become flooded,” he said.
Also speaking, the chairman of the Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) of the school, Ibrahim Wakili Musa, described the condition of the classrooms as a nightmare for parents, pupils and teachers alike.
He said the association had on several occasions written to the management of the LEA, urging it to liaise with the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) to renovate the classrooms, but no action had been taken.
“I can remember that about three weeks ago, some supervisors from the LEA visited the school and my executives and I conducted them around the premises to see the condition of the classrooms. Up till now, nothing has been done, even though they promised to report the matter to the FCT UBEB,” he said.
Musa also expressed concern over the shortage of teachers in the school, saying that despite having more than 235 pupils, the school has only five teachers, including the headmaster.
“We equally informed the supervisors about the inadequate number of teachers, and they promised to forward the complaint to the FCT UBEB, but we have yet to hear anything,” he added.
He noted that the poor condition of the classrooms has negatively affected learning in the community, stressing that children, as future leaders, deserve a conducive learning environment.
Efforts to get the reaction of the Public Relations Officer of the FCT UBEB, Lawal Ibrahim, were unsuccessful.
However, a senior official of the board, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the board had commenced the renovation of primary and secondary schools across the FCT since last year.
According to the official, some dilapidated schools in rural communities, including the one in Gaube, have already been captured for renovation.
“I don’t know if you are aware that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has embarked on the renovation of schools across the FCT, including the provision of infrastructure. The school in the community you mentioned has already been captured for renovation,” the official said.

المصدر: Daily Trust (NG)