The school has only three buildings – two of them with roofs already blown off by winds – while the third is also creaky, uncompleted and not conducive to learning for the teeming pupils.
The Local Government Education Authority School in the Eyenkorin Budo Oke area of Kwara State is currently in a state of disrepair, forcing young school pupils to scramble under trees for classes every day.
The school has only three buildings – two of them with roofs already blown off by winds – while the third is also creaky, uncompleted and not conducive to learning for the teeming pupils.
According to Informant247News, the first building was built by the government; the second was built by a Non-Governmental Organisation in 2005, while the last one is still under construction, and a community self-funded project.
Since March 1 when the winds wreaked havoc to the school, the pupils have been condemned to learning in such terrible conditions.
The community leaders in the area and the headteacher of the school told Informant247News that they had written to the state government on many occasions but they had yet to receive any positive response.
One of the school officials who pleaded not to be named confirmed during a visit by journalists that only few of the pupils remained as the majority of them had left to their various homes.
It was on a Tuesday morning when the pupils were expected to be in class but unfortunately, these young pupils were deprived of qualitative education as a result of the dilapidated infrastructure in their school.
Adeshola Esther, a primary six pupil said, “Whenever, I am in school especially early in the morning, I always feel cold because we have been learning under the tree. We couldn’t make use of our classroom because it doesn’t have roof and windows.
“This is how we have been learning for more than 3 months. Each time rain starts falling, the Headteacher will tell us to go home. We couldn’t wait in the rain because our clothes will be wet. So, we usually run home. We are not always happy when the rain falls, because we know it will definitely affect that day’s class activities.”
Another pupil who wants to become a teacher cried out to the government to come to their aid.
He narrated how they learnt under the trees with nothing to shield them from the harsh weather.
Soliu Quadir, who lives very close to the school, said, “My parents are into trading. My ambition is to become a teacher and impart knowledge to the younger ones. I plead with the government to as a matter of urgency help us repair our school.”
In an interview with the head of the Parent Teachers Association, PTA, Alhaji Solihu Ayinla, he expressed with bitterness the state of the school building.
He said, “This has been a yearly experience. This school was built over 15 years ago. Since then, this is the one classroom the government provided. It is with the help of an NGO that will have another classroom which was built in 2005. We have written to the state government, they keep on promising, but up till today, we haven’t seen them. We are still using this opportunity to implore the government to come to our aid.
“Since, the first rain started, that was when the pupils have been learning under the trees. Immediately rain falls you will see them going back home because there is no where they can stay. With the little we have done, we have spent up to N300,000, it remains planks to do the roofing. But we have exhausted our efforts. This is the major problem we are now facing in our school; may God help us.”
One of the community leaders when contacted, said, “As big as our community is, it ridiculous and sad to say we don’t have a standard primary school, talk less of secondary school. Not having these two belittle us in this community. Since the roof of this school was blown away, we have been looking for support from the government, and even wealthy individuals who could help us renovate the school.”