PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS LEARNING IN DILAPIDATED STRUCTURES SEEK FOR QUICK INTERVENTION FROM EKITI STATE GOVERNMENT

Basic education is aimed at building the capacity and skills of its beneficiaries, mostly young children, and reducing the rate of illiteracy thus affording them the opportunity to inculcate certain values that will help them become responsible, knowledgeable, and productive citizens. With basic education, children have the opportunity to reach their full potential in life and contribute meaningfully to develop the society. While many countries have adopted basic education policies extensively and have provided measures to encourage education and ensure that children remain in school, Nigeria still seems to be lagging significantly in this area.

In October 2020, Foundation for Sustainable Health Promotion and Development (FOSHPAD) visited Ansar-ud-deen (AUD) Comprehensive High School, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State with support from the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), to monitor the reconstruction of a block of classrooms in the school. This reconstruction work was awarded in 2018 with a contract sum of N11, 343,321.00 to Bisteam Golden International Limited, the contract details were extracted from “Ekiti Open Contracting Portal

During the monitoring exercise, we confirmed the completion of the project which is currently in use by Junior Secondary School (JSS) students, we engaged some of the school staff and students to share some of the current situations in the school, issues they are facing, challenges and so on. Some of the students called our attention to a dilapidated building where their colleagues are learning and also some abandoned structures which are not in good shape.

The team visited these classroom blocks being used by JSS 2 students, on getting to the classrooms we discovered that these classrooms were in a deplorable state, they were unsafe and unsuitable for learning as they had no ceiling, windows, and doors. Adjacent to this block of classrooms is an entire classroom block that has been abandoned as the entire roof has been blown off.

One of the students, Ademola Ogunlade expressed dissatisfaction saying they, being the leaders of tomorrow, are sitting inside shabby classrooms to learn. “We are learning in an open roof classroom, directly under the sun and the rain has spoiled some of our books inside the desk,” Ademola said. While some school staff raised concerns about their plan to accommodate new students who will join the school in the 2020/2021 session, by the start of the new session the entire population will be over 2000 pupils, accommodating all students is a big concern a teacher said.

Furthermore, FOSHPAD visited community dwellers to seek their opinion on the current condition of the school. Many of them were not happy with the condition of the school. According to Mr. Olorunsola A.T., he said AUD Comprehensive High School, Ado Ekiti is one of the most populated secondary schools in Ekiti State. He emphasized the nonchalant attitude of the government towards the school. The year 2020 marks the 40th year anniversary of the school and members of the community are unhappy and disappointed in past and present governments for the neglect thus far. What is the benefit of free education when the government cannot provide quality education? A community dweller asked. The classrooms are not in good condition, in addition to the fact that they cannot accommodate all their students.

Thus, while appreciating the Ekiti State Government for constructing 4 new schools with modern facilities, the students, staffs of AUD Comprehensive High School, and inhabitants of the ancient city of Ado Ekiti seek the help of Ekiti State Government to improve infrastructure in AUD Comprehensive High School; they are also calling on the Ekiti State government to increase her efforts in ensuring that all classrooms meet minimum standards and that all students enrolled in public schools should also enjoy quality education.

Written by

Kayode Teslim Owoso, Wahab Adeniyi & Chukwu Otuto Foundation for Sustainable Health Promotion and Development (FOSHPAD)