A government-owned school cluster in an Abuja community has highlighted the dire need for improved educational infrastructure. Pupils from Primary 2 to 6 are crammed into a single classroom at the Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary School in Pagada 1 community, Gwagwalada Area Council, Federal Capital Territory.
A visit to the school revealed that many pupils in the community shun school, opting instead to go to farms or play around the village. The Parent-Teacher Association chairman, Mr. Usman, lamented that despite numerous complaints to the FCT authorities, nothing has been done to address the issue.
The assistant headmaster of the school expressed frustration, stating that 24 teachers resume under a tree daily, sometimes with no pupils available to teach. The school’s deplorable condition has led to a significant decline in attendance, with many parents withdrawing their children to attend schools in nearby communities.
This is not an isolated incident, as a recent visit to several schools in the FCT revealed glaring gaps in the FCTA’s basic education subsector. Issues observed include lack of perimeter fencing, damaged roofs, dilapidated buildings, and insufficient furniture.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, had promised to rehabilitate schools across the six area councils, but despite being in office for over a year, there is little evidence of progress on the ground.
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